Compare towns
Danvers vs Gorham vs Salem vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Gorham | Salem | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
18,300 |
44,795Highest |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Middleton 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% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #248 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | Salem | Middleton |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
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.