Compare towns
Danvers vs Epping vs Salem vs Upton
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 most expensive homes ($644k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Salem | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
7,430Lowest |
44,795Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| 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 94% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Epping School District | Salem | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Epping High School | Salem High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.3Lowest |
9.8 |
11.2 |
| 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.