Compare towns
Danvers vs Dighton vs Pinehurst 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Pinehurst has the most homeowners (97.4%).
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 | Dighton | Pinehurst | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
8,193 |
6,845Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
42.6±2 7% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Dighton 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% |
21%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dighton and Pinehurst 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% |
17.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.9% MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$136,646±$19k 31% above MA |
$146,250±$27kHighest 41% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Pinehurst and Dighton 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 |
$501,900±$47kLowest 11% below MA |
$623,800±$22k 11% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Danvers and Pinehurst 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 |
$1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,946±$1k 10% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Danvers and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$6,452 8% above MA |
$6,316 5% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1 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% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest 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 | #85 of 282 in MA | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Bristol County Agricultural High | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.9 |
— | 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.