Compare towns
Danvers vs Lyndeborough vs Sutton vs Salem
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 most expensive homes ($644k median).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Sutton has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Lyndeborough | Sutton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
1,616Lowest |
2,239 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lyndeborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% 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. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Danvers 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 | — | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 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.