Compare towns
Salem vs Reading vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Salem | Reading | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
699Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.1±2 26% above U.S. |
| Reading and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marblehead and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
| Salem and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 96% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marblehead and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | — | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Salem High | None in town | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.