Compare towns
Danvers vs Hudson vs Lee 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 highest household income ($125k).
Hudson has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
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 | Hudson | Lee | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
20,077 |
5,719Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Danvers and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Danvers and Salem 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 |
$6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Hudson 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 | #224 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 | Hudson | Lee | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Hudson High | Lee Middle/High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.2 |
9.2Lowest |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.