Compare towns

Barnet vs Danvers vs Salem

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnet has the most people working from home (55%).
Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).

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.

MeasureBarnetDanversSalem
People
Population
61Lowest
28,098
44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
62.2±45.8Highest
60% above U.S.
45.3±3
16% above U.S.
39.3±1.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Barnet and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
31.1%±29.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barnet and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
36.1%±44.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnet and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±23.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$57,917±$16kLowest
28% below U.S.
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$85,153±$5k
5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$204,200±$38kLowest
39% below U.S.
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% above U.S.
$542,800±$18k
63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,836±$84Lowest
30% above U.S.
Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,950Lowest
5% below U.S.
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
$6,114
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
48.8%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.9%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Salem and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
47.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
49.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1963Highest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way —
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
55%±29Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #91 of 282 in MA #248 of 282 in MA
School district — Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Salem
High school in town — Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.