Compare towns
Dalton vs Danvers vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Dalton | Danvers | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
28,098Highest |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Dalton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
| Danvers and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,892Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Danvers and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hudson 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hudson |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.8Highest |
10.2Lowest |
| 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.