Compare towns
Danvers vs Hingham vs Stoneham vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 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 | Hingham | Stoneham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
24,283 |
23,355Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Hingham 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% 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% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Hingham and Danvers 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 |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% 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 |
1964 same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hingham | Stoneham | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Hingham High | Stoneham High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.9Highest |
10.7 |
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.