Compare towns
Danvers vs Wrentham 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Wrentham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
12,297Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Wrentham 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wrentham 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Wrentham 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% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$151,676±$17kHighest 46% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Wrentham 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 15% above MA |
$654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Wrentham 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 18% above MA |
$1,184±$628Lowest 33% below MA |
$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 |
$7,373Highest 23% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.9% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Wrentham 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 | #49 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | King Philip · Wrentham | Salem |
| High school in town | — | King Philip Regional High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.