Which Essex County town is right for you?
Essex County
A northeastern Massachusetts county, Essex County is the third-most populous county in the state. As of 2010, Essex County had an estimated population of more than 740,000. Part of the Greater Boston area, Essex County is a great place to live. There are many reasons for this. Firstly, the county has an unemployment rate of just 4.4%. Secondly and importantly, the Average Commute time of Essex County is only 18.48 minutes, 7 minutes less than the national average. The majority of the people in Essex County live in Lynn. However, other towns such as Salem and Gloucester also have significant populations. So, which Essex County town is right for you? Let’s take a look.
Lynn
The biggest town in Essex County, Lynn has an estimated population of more than 90,000. The biggest advantage of living in this town is the easy access to many different amenities. Another good thing about living is this town is the price of property. The median home value of this town is 24% lower than the Massachusetts average. If you’re a fan of meeting people belonging to different cultures or ethnic backgrounds then you’ll love living in Lynn. 32% of the people in the town are Hispanic, 7% have an Asian background, and 10% are black. The town is a good place for people who work in the service and manufacturing industries.
While there are many benefits of living in Lynn, there are some cons as well. Compared to the Massachusetts average, the crime rate of Lynn is 51% higher. Additionally, the graduation rate is 11% lower than the average of Massachusetts.
Salem
A coastal town in Essex County, Salem has a reported population of over 40,000. A popular residential and tourist area, Salem is home to many notable places including The Peabody Essex Museum, Forrest River Park, Willows Park, and the House of Seven Gables. The town is a pedestrian paradise. A popular place in Salem is Essex Street. A Street featuring bricks and cobblestone, Essex Street is closed off to cars and is home to many shops and restaurants.
Just like Lynn, Salem gives residents easy access to a lot of amenities. Another good thing about this town is that its median home value is 8% lower than the Massachusetts average. On the downside, the cost of living in Salem is 4% higher than the average of Massachusetts while crime rate is 59% higher than the Massachusetts average.
Gloucester
The final Essex County town we’re going to talk about is Gloucester. Part of Massachusetts’ North shore, Gloucester has a population of less than 30,000. A quiet and peaceful town, Gloucester is a popular tourist destination. Additionally, the town features many historical places. Gloucester is a safe place as its crime rate is 52% lower than the Massachusetts average. In spite of being a small town, Gloucester offers its residents a number of amenities. The high cost of living is a con of living in this Essex County town.
Essex County in Massachusetts is a great place to visit and live in. By using the aforementioned information, you can decide for yourself which town is right for you.
Sources:
http://www.areavibes.com/salem-ma/livability/
http://www.areavibes.com/gloucester-ma/livability/
http://www.areavibes.com/lynn-ma/livability/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex_County,_Massachusetts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloucester,_Massachusetts