Compare towns
Danvers vs Salem vs Upton
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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
44,795Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Upton 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% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton 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 |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 | $6,654 11% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Salem | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Salem High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.