Compare towns
Danvers vs Gloucester vs Sutton vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Gloucester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Gloucester | Sutton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
30,075 |
9,452Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
50.2±2.3Highest 26% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Gloucester 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 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton 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 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$83,883±$6kLowest 19% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Sutton 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 15% above MA |
$600,600±$18k 7% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,411±$94 20% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| 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 11% above MA |
$6,152 about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.1%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Gloucester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.6% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
63.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #164 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Gloucester | Sutton | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Gloucester High | Sutton High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.0 |
12.6 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.