Compare towns
Salem vs Woonsocket vs Beverly 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Beverly has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Woonsocket | Beverly | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795 |
43,521 |
42,665Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
39±1.8 about the U.S. average |
45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$106,044±$7kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
| Beverly 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 63% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,771±$106 25% above 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 | $6,114 96% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,836Highest 119% above U.S. |
$5,065 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beverly and Salem 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #144 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Beverly | Peabody |
| High school in town | Salem High | Woonsocket High School | Beverly High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
12.2 |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.