Compare towns
Danvers vs Salem vs Woonsocket vs Middleton
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
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 | Woonsocket | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
44,795Highest |
43,521 |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Salem | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Salem High | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
9.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.