Compare towns
Danvers vs Kennebunk vs Salem vs Beverly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Kennebunk | Salem | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
11,820Lowest |
44,795Highest |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Beverly and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Beverly and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$6,836Highest 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beverly 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #9 of 133 in ME | #248 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | RSU 21 | Salem | Beverly |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Kennebunk High School | Salem High | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.6 |
9.8Lowest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.