Compare towns
Danvers vs Hampton Falls vs Lee 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
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Hampton Falls | Lee | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
2,328Lowest |
5,719 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lee and Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Lee 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. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Hampton Falls 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% 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% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hampton Falls School District | Lee | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.