Compare towns
Danvers vs Salem vs Townsend
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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Salem | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
44,795Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Danvers and Townsend 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Danvers and Townsend 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 |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Townsend 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Salem | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Salem High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
9.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.