Compare towns
Danvers vs Exeter vs Salem vs Mansfield
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Exeter | Salem | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
16,151Lowest |
44,795Highest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±1.3 6% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 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±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Mansfield 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28k 81% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147Lowest 28% 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% 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% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Mansfield 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 | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Salem | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Exeter High School | Salem High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1 |
9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.