Compare towns
Danvers vs Danvers vs Salem vs Stoughton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Danvers | Salem | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Lowest |
28,098Lowest |
44,795Highest |
29,225 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
| Stoughton 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% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoughton 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% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Stoughton 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 |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$104,794±$6k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,050±$200 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,215 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — | Salem | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — | Salem High | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.