Compare towns
Salem vs Danvers vs Sutton vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Salem | Danvers | Sutton | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
28,098 |
9,452Lowest |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
| Sutton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA |
| Woburn and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Woburn and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 about the MA average |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Woburn and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | — | Sutton | Woburn |
| High school in town | Salem High | — | Sutton High School | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.