Compare towns

Danvers vs South Hampton 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% 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.

MeasureDanversSouth HamptonSalem
People
Population
28,098
984Lowest
44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Highest
16% above U.S.
45.1±5.3
16% above U.S.
39.3±1.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Danvers and South Hampton 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%
23.3%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
South Hampton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,395±$10k
55% above U.S.
$152,500±$44kHighest
89% above U.S.
$85,153±$5kLowest
5% above U.S.
South Hampton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23k
94% above U.S.
$661,100±$45kHighest
99% above U.S.
$542,800±$18kLowest
63% above U.S.
South Hampton and Danvers 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.
$1,889±$489
34% above U.S.
$1,836±$84Lowest
30% above U.S.
Danvers and South Hampton 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.
$9,109Highest
192% above U.S.
$6,114Lowest
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
30%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.9%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Salem and Danvers 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%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
28 minLowest
7% above U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
17%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #248 of 282 in MA
School district — South Hampton School District Salem
High school in town — None in town Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.