Compare towns
Danvers vs Exeter 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Hampton Falls | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
16,151 |
2,328Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%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. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Danvers 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% 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. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% 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% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
69.1% 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. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below 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% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Exeter High School | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.