Compare towns
Danvers vs Epping vs Hampton Falls vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Epping | Hampton Falls | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
7,430 |
2,328Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton Falls 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Epping 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 55% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Hampton Falls 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Epping School District | Hampton Falls School District | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Epping High School | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.