Compare towns
Salem vs Stow 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 the most renters (50.3% rent).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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 | Stow | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
7,165Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Stow and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Salem and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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 MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Marblehead 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Nashoba | 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 Our Story | 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.