Compare towns
Salem vs Springfield vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Springfield | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
154,749Highest |
20,413Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| 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 about the MA average |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Springfield | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Salem High | Springfield Central High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.2Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.