Compare towns
Salem vs Stratham vs Beverly
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).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Stratham | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
7,754Lowest |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
41.6±4.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Stratham and Salem 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Beverly 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Beverly 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,771±$106Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,836 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Beverly 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Beverly 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Beverly |
| High school in town | Salem High | None in town | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.