Patch Business Series: What Tech Companies Are in Your Backyard?

SALEM, MA – There's a roster of tech businesses on the North Shore proving you don't have to be in Boston, Cambridge, or Somerville to be successful. They're choosing the area for a variety of reasons: Work/life balance, shorter commutes, and low rent to name a few.

This Patch series seeks to highlight why technology and media companies are choosing the North Shore over other areas. Here are some of the businesses we chatted with about the attraction of living and working on the North Shore:

Shorter Commute Lures IT: This Salem IT recruiter has no problem finding qualified candidates on the North Shore between the senior talent that has chosen to live here (and would love to ditch the commute to Boston) and local college graduates looking for entry-level gigs.

North Shore 'It' Factor Grows Innovation Hub: InnoNorth, founded this past June, has been working to connect all the different businesses in Salem and surrounding cities, and show other businesses that this is a viable region to start a tech business.

Community, Price Is Right For Salem IT Company: One of the founders of Steel Root LLC fell in love with this area when he went to Gordon College, and quickly found he didn't want to leave.

North Shore Brain Power Keeps Design Company Connected: Riding your bike to work? Check. Being surrounded by industry leaders on all sides? Check.

Beverly Web Developers Keep Balance Through Nature: Most people might find the biggest perk of the North Shore to be the waterfront, but this web developer actually prefers the surrounding nature trails to the ocean.

North Shore Tech Cluster Gains Visibility: The North Shore Technology Council has found that over 15 years, the area has consistently attracted tech businesses.

Reconciling The History and Innovation of Salem: This company upgrades homes while reinstating their historic features, making Salem a goldmine of dream projects.

Beverly-Born Tech Company Opts To Stay: When given the opportunity to move, Latitude employees chose overwhelmingly to keep headquarters in Beverly.

Salem Creative Agency Has Success With Local Job Board: A North Shore-focused job board has given this Salem creative agency a higher quality of candidate.

Photo via InnoNorth and Joey Phoenix for Creative Salem