Compare towns
Carlisle vs Danvers vs Sherborn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carlisle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Danvers has the most affordable homes ($644k median).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
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 | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,239 |
28,098Highest |
4,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.8±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±5.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Carlisle 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% |
16.3%±3.3Lowest 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% |
82.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$1,026,800±$72k 83% above MA |
| Carlisle and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
| Sherborn and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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% |
48%±26.3Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 38.5%±8.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sherborn and Carlisle 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 | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carlisle | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Sherborn |
| 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 |
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| 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.