Compare towns
Danvers vs Upton vs Berlin 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 most expensive homes ($644k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Upton | Berlin | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
8,189 |
3,378Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Berlin and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Danvers 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Danvers and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Berlin 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Berlin-Boylston | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
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.