Compare towns
Danvers vs West Newbury vs Danvers vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Newbury has the highest household income ($180k).
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 | West Newbury | Danvers | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
4,591Lowest |
28,098 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
49.5±3Highest 24% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| West Newbury 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% |
19.6%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| West Newbury 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% |
21.3%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$179,500±$27kHighest 73% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$808,200±$47kHighest 44% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,675±$674Lowest 5% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$9,240Highest 54% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
80.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| West Newbury 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% |
1.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
95.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| West Newbury 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 | #86 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Pentucket | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Pentucket Regional Sr High | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.6 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.