Compare towns

Chaplin 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

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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.

MeasureChaplinDanversSalem
People
Population
2,070Lowest
28,098
44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±4.8
12% above U.S.
45.3±3Highest
16% above U.S.
39.3±1.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Danvers and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Danvers and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.9%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Danvers and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,846±$14k
21% above U.S.
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$85,153±$5kLowest
5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% above U.S.
$542,800±$18k
63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Lowest
4% above U.S.
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above 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
$4,524Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
$6,114
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6
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
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
49.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±10Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±2.5Highest
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 Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Salem
High school in town Parish Hill High School Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5Lowest
12.8Highest
9.8
On TownTapestry
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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.