Compare towns
Danvers vs Needham vs Boston 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
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 | Needham | Boston | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Lowest |
32,459 |
666,442Highest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Danvers and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,147±$25 22% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Salem |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Boston Latin School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
18.7Highest |
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.