Compare towns
Salem vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
9,100Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Townsend 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 18% below MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% 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 |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Townsend 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | Salem High | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.