Salem, MA Eviction Risk Score Essex County · Massachusetts · Pop. 44,795
Salem, MA sits at 7.0/10 — High risk. 32.3% rent burden, 50.3% renters, ~181-day typical timeline.
Location & regional heat
Sub-score breakdown
Each component on a 1–10 scale. Ticks mark the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles nationally.
About eviction risk in Salem, MA
Salem, MA has an eviction risk score of 7.0 out of 10, placing it in the high-risk tier for landlords operating in Essex County and the state of Massachusetts. The score combines local political climate, court disposition patterns, cost-of-eviction estimates, tenant organizing strength, and the likelihood of new tenant-protective legislation in the next legislative cycle.
Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates show median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 32.3% — a core driver of eviction filings, because households above 30% of income on rent are statistically more likely to miss a payment after any income shock. Median gross rent in Salem is $1,836/month. About 50.3% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.
Economic stress: poverty rate 13.7%, unemployment 5.2%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.
Political climate: In 2020, Essex County voted Democratic by 29.1 points — classified as strongly tenant-leaning for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.
What this score means for landlords
At 7.0/10, Salem is a high-risk environment. Expect exposure to just-cause requirements, relocation payments, extended notice periods, longer court timelines, and tenant attorneys contesting summary proceedings. Budget conservatively for cost and timeline, and audit lease addenda, disclosures, and notice templates against the latest state and local ordinances before any non-payment or holdover action.
Nearby Cities — Eviction Risk Comparison
| City | Distance | Population | Risk score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swampscott, MA | 2.2 mi | 15,277 | 6.5 |
| Marblehead, MA | 3.2 mi | 20,413 | 6.0 |
| Lynn, MA | 3.7 mi | 101,709 | 6.8 |
| Peabody, MA | 4.4 mi | 54,695 | 6.8 |
| Beverly, MA | 4.8 mi | 42,665 | 6.8 |
| Danvers, MA | 5.8 mi | 28,098 | 6.6 |
| Nahant, MA | 5.9 mi | 3,325 | 6.3 |
| Saugus, MA | 6.3 mi | 28,773 | 6.1 |
Landlord Guides & Research Tools
Deepen your research with these guides. The metrics powering this score feed directly into each breakdown.
- Eviction Process — Step-by-Step Timeline & Notices
- Eviction Costs Breakdown — Filing Fees to Turnover
- Tenant Screening Protocol — NGP 5-Point System
- Rent Control Coverage — AB 1482 & Local RSOs
- California Tenant Protections — Just Cause & Retaliation
- Massachusetts Eviction Risk Overview — all counties & cities in Massachusetts
- Essex County — compare every city in the county