Compare towns
Salem vs Whitman vs Peabody
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Whitman has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Peabody has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Whitman | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
15,295Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Peabody 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% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
| Whitman and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$472,700±$12kLowest 16% below MA |
$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,771±$151Lowest about the MA average |
$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Peabody 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% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Whitman-Hanson | Peabody |
| High school in town | Salem High | None in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
| 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.