Compare towns
Salisbury vs Danvers vs Merrimac vs Dalton
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).
Merrimac has the most homeowners (81.3%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281 |
28,098Highest |
6,748 |
6,256Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton 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%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton 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% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% 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% |
2.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Danvers 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 |
$123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below 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 |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,352±$325 23% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% 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 |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest 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% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 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 | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Pentucket | 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 |
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.