What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alton	Danvers
People
Population	5,994Lowest	28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.	45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Danvers and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,715±$19kLowest 41% above U.S.	$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S.
	Danvers and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,400±$37kLowest 29% above U.S.	$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,076±$192 47% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S.	$6,654Highest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Danvers and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Danvers and Alton 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	#72 of 120 in NH	#91 of 282 in MA
School district	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town	Prospect Mountain High School	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.