Compare towns
Danvers vs Lancaster vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Lancaster | Needham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
8,606Lowest |
32,459 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Lancaster 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% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Needham and Lancaster 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 |
$7,235 21% 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% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Needham 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Nashoba | Needham | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Needham High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.9 |
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.