Compare towns
Danvers vs Hingham vs Lexington 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
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 | Hingham | Lexington | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
24,283Lowest |
34,295 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Hingham and Lexington 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% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington and Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham 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% MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Lexington and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Lexington and Hingham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Hingham 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hingham | Lexington | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Hingham High | Lexington High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.9Highest |
11.4 |
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.