Compare towns

Danvers vs Holderness 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

Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.

MeasureDanversHoldernessSalem
People
Population
28,098
1,917Lowest
44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Highest
16% above U.S.
39.4±7.4
about the U.S. average
39.3±1.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Danvers and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±1.7
U.S.: 22%
Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
31.4%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$107,863±$45k
34% above U.S.
$85,153±$5kLowest
5% above U.S.
Danvers and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% above U.S.
$363,100±$60kLowest
9% above U.S.
$542,800±$18k
63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$2,068±$385
46% above U.S.
$1,836±$84Lowest
30% above U.S.
Danvers and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
$3,923Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,114
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
23.5%±21.2Lowest
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%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.1Lowest
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 — #248 of 282 in MA
School district — Holderness School District Salem
High school in town — None in town Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.