Compare towns
Alton vs Danvers vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k 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 | Alton | Danvers | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
28,098Highest |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Alton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Danvers 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%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kLowest 25% 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±$37k 29% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 34% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.