Compare towns
Alstead vs Danvers vs Marlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Marlow has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Alstead | Danvers | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
28,098Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danvers and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Alstead 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → |
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.