Compare towns
Danvers vs Alstead 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
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Danvers | Alstead | Danvers | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
1,551Lowest |
28,098 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
— | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Salem |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.