Compare towns
Peabody vs Gorham 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
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Gorham | Danvers | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
18,300Lowest |
28,098 |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peabody and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Gorham 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. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99 38% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$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. |
$4,825Lowest 55% 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% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest 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% |
3.7%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% |
81.5%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. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer 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 |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #91 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Gorham Public Schools | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Gorham High School | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
12.9Highest |
— | 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.