Compare towns
Danvers vs Lawrence vs Danvers vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Lawrence | Danvers | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Lowest |
88,736Highest |
28,098Lowest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Salem 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% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Lawrence | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Salem |
| High school in town | — | Lawrence High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
12.8 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.