Compare towns
Beverly vs Ashfield vs Danvers vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
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.
| Measure | Beverly | Ashfield | Danvers | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
1,893Lowest |
28,098 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Beverly and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Beverly and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 3% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Beverly 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Mohawk Trail | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Salem |
| High school in town | Beverly High | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.