What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($485k median).

Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Danvers
People
Population	22,220Lowest	28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S.	45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S.
	Danvers and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,764±$8kLowest 21% above U.S.	$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,000±$25kLowest 46% above U.S.	$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,579±$118Lowest 12% above U.S.	$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,393Lowest 73% above U.S.	$6,654Highest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Danvers and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#20 of 38 in RI	#91 of 282 in MA
School district	Bristol Warren	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town	Mt. Hope High School	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.