Compare towns

Cavendish vs Danvers vs Ludlow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).

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.

MeasureCavendishDanversLudlow
People
Population
1,242Lowest
28,098Highest
1,990
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±5.9Lowest
16% above U.S.
45.3±3
16% above U.S.
52.2±6.2Highest
34% above U.S.
Ludlow and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Cavendish and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.1%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,063±$29k
10% above U.S.
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$54,885±$14kLowest
32% below U.S.
Danvers and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$285,100±$40kLowest
14% below U.S.
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% above U.S.
$370,200±$46k
11% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,000±$546Lowest
29% below U.S.
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,112±$151
21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,948Lowest
27% above U.S.
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
$4,890
57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.2%±25.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Danvers and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
20 min
24% below U.S.
Work from home
18.5%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ludlow 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 — #91 of 282 in MA —
School district Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83
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
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 18 photos → 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.