Compare towns
Danvers vs Salem vs Windham vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Salem | Windham | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
44,795Highest |
16,038Lowest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Windham 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Salem | Windham School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | — | Salem High | Windham High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.