Compare towns
Danvers vs Reading vs Mansfield 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).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Reading | Mansfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
699Lowest |
23,931 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3 6% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Reading and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mansfield and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Mansfield 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28k 81% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,226Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Salem 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 | — | #60 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mansfield | Salem |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Mansfield High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.