Compare towns

Danvers vs Templeton 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 highest household income ($125k).
Templeton has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
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.

MeasureDanversTempletonSalem
People
Population
28,098
8,252Lowest
44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
40.3±5.1
about the MA average
39.3±1.5Lowest
about the MA average
Danvers and Templeton 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%
22.9%±5.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.7%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Templeton 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%
14.7%±2.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
17.2%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
26.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
47.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
3.4%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
8.2%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,395±$10kHighest
21% above MA
$101,154±$15k
about the MA average
$85,153±$5kLowest
18% below MA
Danvers and Templeton 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
$358,500±$12kLowest
36% below MA
$542,800±$18k
3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,207±$353Lowest
31% below MA
$1,836±$84
4% above 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
$4,554Lowest
24% below MA
$6,114
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
44.7%±26.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
54.9%±4.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
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
MA: 10%
10.6%
MA: 10%
12.1%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
85.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
49.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
about the MA average
28 minLowest
5% below MA
29 minHighest
about the MA average
Work from home
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
16.9%±5.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
21.6%±2.5Highest
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 #244 of 282 in MA #248 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Narragansett Salem
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Narragansett Regional High Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
12.2
9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.