Compare towns

Danvers vs Hull 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 most kids (17.2% under 18).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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.

MeasureDanversHullSalem
People
Population
28,098
10,138Lowest
44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3
13% above MA
56.1±1.8Highest
40% above MA
39.3±1.5Lowest
about the MA average
Kids under 18
17.2%±2Highest
MA: 19.4%
11.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
15.7%±1.7
MA: 19.4%
Danvers and Salem 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%
26.1%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.2%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Hull 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%
50.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
47.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
8.2%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,395±$10kHighest
21% above MA
$115,485±$14k
11% above MA
$85,153±$5kLowest
18% below MA
Danvers and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23k
15% above MA
$646,000±$38kHighest
15% above MA
$542,800±$18kLowest
3% below MA
Hull and Danvers 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
$2,081±$187Highest
18% above MA
$1,836±$84Lowest
4% above MA
Hull and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$6,089Lowest
about the MA average
$6,114
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±14
MA: 51.8%
54.9%±4.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
Salem and Hull 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%
5.8%
MA: 10%
12.1%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
79.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
49.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Highest
1 yr older than MA
1946
18 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
33 minHighest
14% above MA
29 min
about the MA average
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.7%±4.3
MA: 18.6%
21.6%±2.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
Salem and Hull 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 #66 of 282 in MA #248 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Hull Salem
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Hull High Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
8.8Lowest
9.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.