Compare towns
Danvers vs Middleton vs Worcester 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).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Worcester | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
9,816Lowest |
207,055Highest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Danvers and Middleton 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% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Middleton 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% 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 | $6,654 11% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Middleton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | South High Community | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 14.6Highest |
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.