Compare towns
Danvers vs Lancaster vs Mendon 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 most expensive homes ($644k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Lancaster | Mendon | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
8,606 |
6,325Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Mendon 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Danvers and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton | Salem |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 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.