Compare towns
Danvers vs Dunstable vs Middleton 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).
Dunstable has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Dunstable | Middleton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
3,408Lowest |
9,816 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Middleton 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% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable 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% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Middleton 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% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Dunstable 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 |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Dunstable and Middleton 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 |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Middleton and Dunstable 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 |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,407±$284 20% 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 |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable 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% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
92.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Groton-Dunstable | Middleton | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 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.