Compare towns
Danvers vs Worcester 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
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Worcester | Danvers | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Lowest |
207,055Highest |
28,098Lowest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 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 | #266 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 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | South High Community | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
14.6Highest |
— | 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.