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Salem, Massachusetts is a historic coastal city on the North Shore, about thirty minutes north of Boston, and it's home to Salem State University, whose campus sits within a city famous worldwide for its 1692 witch trials and its deep maritime past. Salem wears that history everywhere, from cobbled streets and colonial houses to the museums and the witch-trial memorial downtown, and it leans all the way into it each October, when Haunted Happenings turns Salem into one of the country's biggest Halloween destinations. Beyond the spectacle, this is a real working harbor city with a walkable downtown, a waterfront of wharves and the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, and the Peabody Essex Museum drawing crowds year round.
Closest to the main campus, South Salem is a practical favorite, with houses and apartments a short walk or shuttle ride from class.
The liveliest area, full of historic streets, the harbor walk, museums, and nightlife, drawing students who want to be in the thick of it.
Near downtown, the Point tends to have more attainable finds and an easy walk to the train.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Salem.
The MBTA Commuter Rail is the key link, running from Salem's downtown station into Boston's North Station in roughly half an hour, which makes the city feel connected despite its small size. Local and regional buses serve the wider North Shore, and Salem State runs its own shuttle between its campuses and key points, which most students lean on. The shuttle handles campus trips, while the train opens up Boston. Between the rail, buses, and shuttle, students near campus manage without a car.
Salem is compact and walkable at its core, so students can get a lot done on foot, especially downtown and around the waterfront. Walking handles the downtown, the common, and the harbor easily. Biking works well on the flatter streets and along the water, though the old narrow lanes call for care. Daily basics near campus and downtown are easy without a car.
A car is handy for beaches, jobs, and North Shore trips, but it's not essential if you live near campus or the train. Driving helps for destinations the train and shuttle do not reach. Parking in the historic core is tight, especially during the busy October season. Many students near campus skip a car and rely on the rail and shuttle.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Salem sits in the mid-range for Massachusetts, cheaper than Boston but not bargain territory. A room in a shared apartment or house near Salem State often runs about $700 to $1,100 a month, while one-bedroom apartments commonly land between $1,800 and $2,400. Sharing a multi-bedroom place in South Salem or the Point is how most students keep their share reasonable.
Browse student housing near each Salem-area university.