Compare towns
Danvers vs Chilmark vs Mansfield vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Chilmark | Mansfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
1,578Lowest |
23,931 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Chilmark and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark 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% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Chilmark and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Salem 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 | — | #60 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Up-Island Regional | Mansfield | Salem |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Mansfield High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.