Compare towns
Hampton vs Danvers 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
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Hampton | Danvers | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Lowest |
28,098 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #91 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.