Compare towns
Danvers vs Springfield vs Salem vs Mansfield
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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Mansfield has the most homeowners (73.1%).
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 | Springfield | Salem | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
154,749Highest |
44,795 |
23,931Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
| Danvers and Mansfield 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Mansfield 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| 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 15% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| 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 18% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| 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 11% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Mansfield 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Springfield | Salem | Mansfield |
| High school in town | — | Springfield Central High | Salem High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.