Compare towns
Bourne vs Danvers vs Gloucester vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Gloucester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Bourne | Danvers | Gloucester | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,323 |
28,098 |
30,075Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
50.2±2.3 26% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Bourne and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$83,883±$6kLowest 19% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $575,600±$28kLowest about the MA average |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$600,600±$18k 7% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,411±$94 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,152 about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
9.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
63.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #164 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Gloucester | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Gloucester High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.0 |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.