Compare towns
Danvers vs Wayne vs Peabody 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).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 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 | Wayne | Peabody | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
1,101Lowest |
54,695Highest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4 16% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Peabody 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Wayne 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. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,950±$99 38% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Peabody 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. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,065 62% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody and Salem 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Salem 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 | — | #228 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | RSU 38 | Peabody | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.3 |
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.