Compare towns
Salisbury vs Danvers vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Salisbury | Danvers | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
28,098 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Salisbury and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Lowest about the MA average |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Salem |
| High school in town | — | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.