Compare towns
Salem vs Strafford 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 the most renters (50.3% rent).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Strafford | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
4,306Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marblehead and Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marblehead and Strafford 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% |
40.2%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% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246Lowest 16% above 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. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Strafford School District | 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.