Compare towns
Danvers vs Lee vs Windsor 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 expensive homes ($644k median).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windsor has the most homeowners (96.2%).
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 | Lee | Windsor | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
5,719 |
1,065Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Danvers and Windsor 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Danvers and Windsor 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 |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above 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 | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Windsor 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Lee | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Lee Middle/High School | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.