Compare towns
Danvers vs Danvers vs Meredith 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
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Danvers | Meredith | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
28,098 |
6,758Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% 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. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest 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 | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Salem |
| High school in town | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Inter-Lakes High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.1 |
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.