Compare towns
Salisbury vs Danvers vs Lee vs Merrimac
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 (+11.5%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Merrimac has the most homeowners (81.3%).
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 | Lee | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281 |
28,098Highest |
5,719Lowest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
| Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Danvers and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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 10% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
| Danvers and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
| 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 23% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Lee | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.