Compare towns
Salisbury vs Danvers vs Epsom vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Epsom has the most homeowners (87.6%).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 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 | Salisbury | Danvers | Epsom | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281 |
28,098Highest |
4,939Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.1±3.4 21% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epsom and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$97,941±$13k 21% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$338,400±$19k about the U.S. average |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,212±$437 14% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 48% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$6,210 99% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #69 of 120 in NH | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Epsom School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.