Compare towns
Chaplin vs Danvers vs Salem vs Ashford
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 most expensive homes ($644k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Ashford has the most kids (18.5% 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 | Chaplin | Danvers | Salem | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
28,098 |
44,795Highest |
4,226 |
| 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±1.5 about the U.S. average |
37.9±10.3Lowest 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%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashford and Danvers 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% |
18.9%±3.7 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% |
35.3% 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% |
4.4%±1.7 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. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,246±$208Lowest 12% 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 | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% 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% |
47%±26 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% |
5.4% 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% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% 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% |
19.3%±5.5 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 | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Salem | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
9.8 |
— |
| 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.