Compare towns
Salem vs Thompson vs Peabody
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Peabody has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
9,337Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peabody and Salem 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Peabody and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Peabody and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,065 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Thompson School District | Peabody |
| High school in town | Salem High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
7.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.