Compare towns
Danvers vs Gardner 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 highest household income ($125k).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Gardner | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
21,148Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Gardner 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 MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% 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 | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Gardner | Salem |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.