Compare towns
Danvers vs Amesbury vs Upton 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).
Amesbury has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Amesbury | Upton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
17,403 |
8,189Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton 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% |
20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Amesbury 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% |
18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Upton 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% |
44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$103,554±$12k about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Upton 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 |
$519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,683±$115 4% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$7,360 23% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Amesbury | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Amesbury High | Blackstone Valley | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.9 |
11.2 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.