Compare towns
Salem vs Worcester 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%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Peabody has the most homeowners (65.6%).
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 | Worcester | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Lowest |
207,055Highest |
54,695 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$96,657±$4kHighest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$5,065 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Peabody |
| High school in town | Salem High | South High Community | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.6Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.