Compare towns
Danvers vs Newton vs Salisbury vs Peabody
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).
Newton has the most homeowners (90.1%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Peabody has the most kids (18.7% 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 | Newton | Salisbury | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
4,836Lowest |
9,281 |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Newton 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% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peabody 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% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Peabody 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Newton 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. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
| Newton 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. |
$459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,683±$96Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$1,950±$99 38% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Peabody 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. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,065 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #240 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Sanborn Regional School District | Triton | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | None in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.