Compare towns
Temple vs Salem vs Beverly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Temple has the most homeowners (82.2%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k 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 | Temple | Salem | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,363Lowest |
44,795Highest |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Beverly and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beverly and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Beverly and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
| Salem and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,836 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beverly and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4Highest 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 | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Salem | Beverly |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.