Near the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem
Jump straight to the section you need, from the waterfront and neighborhoods to the market numbers, Kathleen's take, and the FAQ.
Salem
Salem is a city of 44,480 people about 16 miles northeast of Boston, settled in 1626 and tied to nearly four centuries of American history. It is famous for the 1692 witch trials and today's Halloween season, and it is also a genuine North Shore city with a working waterfront, a world-class museum, and a 30-minute rail ride to Boston.
Downtown Salem is dense, walkable, and layered: Essex Street and the pedestrian mall, Derby Wharf and the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, the Peabody Essex Museum, and the house museums of the historic districts. Salem Station sits downtown on the Newburyport/Rockport Line, which makes the city one of the most connected on the North Shore.
1692 History
Witch trial sites, memorials, and museums
Peabody Essex Museum
Internationally known art and collections
Maritime Salem
Derby Wharf, the Friendship, and the National Park
30 Minutes to Boston
Salem Station on the Newburyport/Rockport Line
Salem
The numbers that frame the city, in one glance.
| County | Essex County |
|---|---|
| Region | Boston's Coastal North Shore |
| Residents | 44,480 (2020 Census) |
| Distance to Boston | About 16 miles northeast |
| ZIP Code | 01970 |
| Settled | 1626 |
| Government | Mayor and City Council |
| Known For | 1692 witch trials, Peabody Essex Museum, maritime history |
Salem
Salem is a real city, which means neighborhood matters more than it does in a small town. The downtown and Salem Common offer walkable urban living; the McIntire Historic District holds the Federal architecture the city is known for; Salem Neck and the Point reach into the harbor; and the Willows on the north side is a waterfront neighborhood with its own amusement park history.
October is famously intense, with visitors arriving from everywhere for the witch trial history and Halloween. The rest of the year is more ordinary: schools, commuters, a busy waterfront, and a restaurant scene that keeps locals downtown all year.
The commute is the city's quiet superpower: Salem Station puts Boston's North Station about 30 minutes away on the Newburyport/Rockport Line, and Routes 1A, 107, and 128 connect the city by car. If you are weighing Salem against Beverly or Lynn, my commuter rail guide compares the line town by town.
Salem
A few real Salem stops, from Essex Street to the waterfront, to start from.
Salem
Official August 2026 market report data from the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) and MLS PIN for Salem, Massachusetts.
11
Closed Sales (August)
20
Pending Sales
$720,000
Median Sales Price (August)
$720,000
Median Sales Price (YTD)
33
Days on Market (August)
34
Days on Market (YTD)
2.0
Months Supply of Inventory
Eleven single-family homes closed in Salem in August, with 20 pending. The August median sales price was $720,000, matching the year-to-date median of $720,000. Homes spent 33 cumulative days on market in August (34 year to date), and inventory stood at 2.0 months of supply.
Activity for one month can sometimes look extreme due to small sample size.
27
Closed Sales (August)
24
Pending Sales
$490,000
Median Sales Price (August)
$510,000
Median Sales Price (YTD)
49
Days on Market (August)
42
Days on Market (YTD)
2.5
Months Supply of Inventory
Twenty-seven condominiums closed in August, with 24 pending. The August median was $490,000 and the year-to-date median was $510,000. Condos spent 49 cumulative days on market in August (42 year to date), and months of supply sat at 2.5.
Activity for one month can sometimes look extreme due to small sample size.
Kathleen's Take on the Salem Market
Salem's August single-family median of $720,000 matches the year-to-date median exactly, which is about as steady as a market report gets, and 2.0 months of supply keeps it tilted toward sellers. The condominium market is the bigger story: 27 closed sales in August is a deep, active pipeline, and the $490,000 August median on a $510,000 year-to-date base gives buyers more entry points.
Twenty pending single-family sales and 24 pending condos in August means buyer demand is broad, and 33 days on market shows homes that are priced and presented well do not sit. The condominium market at 2.5 months of supply is competitive, a good position for sellers who list at the market rather than above it.
I watch the pending counts, 20 single-family and 24 condominium sales, because that volume is what separates Salem from the smaller coastal towns. Days on market in the low 30s for single-family and the 40s for condos, on strong supply, says Salem absorbs inventory quickly when it is priced honestly.
Thinking about making a move on the North Shore? Ask Kathleen, or book a call, and she will walk you through what is happening in Salem right now.
Salem
Salem questions people actually ask. Clear answers to the most common questions about living in this historic waterfront city.
Yes, for buyers who want a real city on the water. Salem has a walkable downtown, museums, a working waterfront, its own school district, and a 30-minute commuter rail ride to Boston. October is famously intense, and year-round residents trade some fall chaos for a connected, lively North Shore city.
Salem is known worldwide for the 1692 witch trials and the Halloween season built around them, plus the Peabody Essex Museum, the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, the House of the Seven Gables, and one of the country’s great collections of Federal architecture.
Salem is about 16 miles northeast of Boston. Salem Station on the MBTA Newburyport/Rockport Line reaches Boston’s North Station in about 30 minutes, and Routes 1A and 128 connect the city by car.
Yes. Salem Station sits downtown on the MBTA Newburyport/Rockport Line, with frequent direct service to Boston’s North Station.
Salem runs its own public school district, Salem Public Schools, with elementary, middle, and high schools across the city.
Explore Salem homes for sale through Kathleen Militello, Realtor with eXp Realty, on her website, Essex County Homes for Sale.
Comparing towns? My full guides to Beverly, Lynn, and Manchester-by-the-Sea cover the neighboring communities, and the hub page for Coastal Communities links every North Shore town Kathleen serves.
Salem
Authoritative first-party sources for Salem information. These links go directly to official websites.
Next step
A conversation is the fastest way to see which Salem fits you: a condo downtown, a Federal house in the historic district, or a waterfront home on the Neck. You do not have to decide anything before we talk.
