Compare towns
Carlisle vs Danvers vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carlisle has the highest household income ($250k).
Danvers has the most affordable homes ($644k median).
Bedford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Carlisle | Danvers | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,239Lowest |
28,098Highest |
14,727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$172,400±$23k 66% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle and Bedford 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 | #24 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carlisle | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Bedford |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.