Compare towns
Arlington vs Danvers vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most affordable 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.
| Measure | Arlington | Danvers | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 46,350Highest |
28,098Lowest |
46,350Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Danvers and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $150,701±$5kHighest 45% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$150,701±$5kHighest 45% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,082±$76Highest 18% above MA |
$2,076±$192Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,082±$76Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,604Highest 60% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$9,604Highest 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #29 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Arlington | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — |
| High school in town | Arlington High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.