Compare towns
Salisbury vs Salem vs Seabrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Salisbury | Salem | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
44,795Highest |
8,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Seabrook and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Seabrook and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$443,500±$40kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,542±$174Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Salem and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,785 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Triton | Salem | Seabrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.