Compare towns
Danvers vs Hampton vs Needham 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 has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Hampton | Needham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
16,426Lowest |
32,459 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Needham and Danvers 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. |
$6,813 118% 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%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Needham 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Winnacunnet High School | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.1 |
— | 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.