Compare towns

Beverly vs Danvers vs Dunbarton 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

Beverly has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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.

MeasureBeverlyDanversDunbartonSalem
People
Population
42,665
28,098
3,097Lowest
44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±1.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.3±3
16% above U.S.
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
39.3±1.5
about the U.S. average
Dunbarton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dunbarton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Danvers and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.3%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,044±$7k
31% above U.S.
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$124,348±$21k
54% above U.S.
$85,153±$5kLowest
5% above U.S.
Danvers and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$650,300±$13kHighest
95% above U.S.
$644,200±$23k
94% above U.S.
$484,100±$33kLowest
46% above U.S.
$542,800±$18k
63% above U.S.
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
25% above U.S.
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,836±$84
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
$6,836
119% above U.S.
$6,654
113% above U.S.
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
$6,114Lowest
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7
U.S.: 51.1%
54.9%±4.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Beverly and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
60.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Beverly and Salem 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 #33 of 120 in NH #248 of 282 in MA
School district Beverly Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Dunbarton School District Salem
High school in town Beverly High Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School None in town 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

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.