Compare towns
Peabody vs Dummerston 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
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
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 | Peabody | Dummerston | Danvers | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
2,090Lowest |
28,098 |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4 16% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest 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+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±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 | $96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99 38% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,065 62% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 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 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Salem |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.