Compare towns
Salisbury vs Danvers vs Merrimac vs Amesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($479k median).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Merrimac has the most homeowners (81.3%).
Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Merrimac | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281 |
28,098Highest |
6,748Lowest |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
| Salisbury and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Amesbury and Danvers 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
$103,554±$12k about the MA average |
| 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±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
$519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
$1,683±$115 4% 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 | $4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
$7,360 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Salisbury 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% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Pentucket | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Amesbury 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 |
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.