Compare towns
Dalton vs Danvers vs Lee vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Dalton | Danvers | Lee | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
28,098 |
5,719Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below 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 | $4,276 29% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Lee | Salem |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Lee Middle/High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.8Highest |
9.2Lowest |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.