Compare towns
Danvers vs Plainville vs Sutton 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 most expensive homes ($644k median).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Plainville | Sutton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
9,943 |
9,452Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Plainville 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% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| 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 15% above MA |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,977±$197 12% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Danvers and Plainville 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 |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Salem 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Plainville | Sutton | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Sutton High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.6 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.