Compare towns
Danvers vs Marlow vs Springfield 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).
Marlow 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 | Marlow | Springfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
855Lowest |
1,122 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Marlow and Springfield 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% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Danvers 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% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Marlow 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. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below 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 | $6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,826Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Danvers 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 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 | Marlow School District | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 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.