Compare towns
Danvers vs Gorham vs North Windham 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 most expensive homes ($644k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
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 | Gorham | North Windham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
18,300 |
5,417Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and North Windham 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% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Danvers 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% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8k 10% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Gorham 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. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,248±$604Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above 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 | $6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Danvers 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and North Windham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Gorham Public Schools | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Gorham High School | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.9Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.