Compare towns
Danvers vs Sutton vs Whitman 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 most expensive homes ($644k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Whitman has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
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 | Sutton | Whitman | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
9,452Lowest |
15,295 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Sutton 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±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$472,700±$12kLowest 16% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson | Salem |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
— | 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.