Compare towns
Amesbury vs Salisbury vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Amesbury | Salisbury | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403 |
5,656Lowest |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
| Salisbury and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Amesbury and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12k about the MA average |
$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,770±$444 about the MA average |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Danvers and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #151 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.