Compare towns
Danvers vs Sterling vs Killingly vs Salem
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 highest household income ($125k).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Sterling | Killingly | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
3,629Lowest |
17,867 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and Killingly 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Killingly 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% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Killingly 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 55% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| 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 113% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Killingly High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.1 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.