Compare towns
Cavendish vs Danvers vs Salem vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Cavendish | Danvers | Salem | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
28,098 |
44,795Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Whitingham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below 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 | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Salem | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Salem High | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.8 |
7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.