Compare towns
Danvers vs Epping vs Stoughton 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 highest household income ($125k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Stoughton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Stoughton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
7,430Lowest |
29,225 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% 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. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Stoughton 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% |
20.8%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 55% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$104,794±$6k 30% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$523,800±$28k 57% 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. |
$2,050±$200 45% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Stoughton 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,215 99% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoughton and Epping 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% 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% |
74.1% 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. |
1969 11 yrs older 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. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Salem 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 | #196 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Epping School District | Stoughton | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Epping High School | Stoughton High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.3Lowest |
10.8 |
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.