Compare towns

Bedford vs Danvers vs Maynard

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bedford has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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.

MeasureBedfordDanversMaynard
People
Population
14,727
28,098Highest
10,712Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±1.6Lowest
11% above MA
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
45.3±4.3Highest
13% above MA
Kids under 18
20.8%±2.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Bedford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.1%±2.6
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±3.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Danvers and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
69.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
64.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.5%±1.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Bedford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,400±$23kHighest
66% above MA
$125,395±$10k
21% above MA
$124,067±$16kLowest
19% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$898,500±$43kHighest
60% above MA
$644,200±$23k
15% above MA
$527,400±$31kLowest
6% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,622±$327Highest
49% above MA
$2,076±$192
18% above MA
$1,800±$148Lowest
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$6,654Lowest
11% above MA
$8,266
38% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±9.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
44.9%±9.6
MA: 51.8%
Danvers and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.5%
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.3%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
75%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
11% below MA
28 min
about the MA average
32 minHighest
9% above MA
Work from home
32.4%±6.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.9%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
Bedford and Maynard 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 #7 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #166 of 282 in MA
School district Bedford Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Maynard
High school in town Bedford High Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Maynard High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2
12.8Highest
9.7Lowest
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.