Compare towns
Auburn vs Danvers vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($552k 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 | Auburn | Danvers | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119 |
28,098Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kLowest 55% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19k 76% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42kLowest 66% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
— |
| Danvers and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 159% above U.S. |
$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #91 of 282 in MA | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.