Compare towns
Danvers vs Swampscott vs Upton 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Swampscott | Upton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
15,277 |
8,189Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Swampscott 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% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Upton and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Swampscott and Danvers 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 |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older 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 |
34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Upton 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 | #76 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Swampscott | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Swampscott High | Blackstone Valley | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.7 |
11.2 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.