Compare towns
Salem vs Reading vs Beverly vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Reading | Beverly | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
699Lowest |
42,665 |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
| Reading and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
| Beverly 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 30% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 96% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$6,836Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Beverly 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 | — | #144 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Beverly | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Salem High | None in town | Beverly High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.2 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.