Compare towns
Danvers vs Middleton vs Salem vs Stoughton
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Stoughton has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
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 | Middleton | Salem | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
9,816Lowest |
44,795Highest |
29,225 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
| Stoughton and Danvers 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% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoughton 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Stoughton 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 MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
41.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Stoughton 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 21% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$104,794±$6k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,050±$200 16% above MA |
| Danvers and Stoughton 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 |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,215 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Middleton | Salem | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Salem High | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.