Compare towns
Danvers vs Webster vs Salem vs Middleton
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
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 | Webster | Salem | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
17,748 |
44,795Highest |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Danvers and Middleton 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% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Webster 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 MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Webster | Salem | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Bartlett High School | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.6 |
9.8Lowest |
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| 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.