Compare towns
Middleton vs Salem vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Middleton | Salem | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816Lowest |
44,795Highest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 8% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±3Highest 13% 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%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,654 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 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 | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Salem | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.