Compare towns
Peabody vs 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
Peabody has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Hampton | Danvers | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
10,101Lowest |
28,098 |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%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. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Peabody and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Peabody 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% |
44.2% 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% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99 38% above U.S. |
$1,654±$93Lowest 17% 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 | $5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest 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%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% |
74.5%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. |
1979Highest 1 yr 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 |
26 minLowest 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% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #91 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Salem |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | — | 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.