Compare towns
Danvers vs North Reading vs Reading 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).
North Reading has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | North Reading | Reading | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
15,765Lowest |
25,612 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Reading 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% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and North Reading 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% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Reading 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% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Reading and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| North Reading 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 |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Reading | Reading | Salem |
| High school in town | — | North Reading High | Reading Memorial High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
12.1Highest |
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.