Compare towns
Danvers vs Ayer vs Stoughton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Stoughton has the most homeowners (74.1%).
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 | Danvers | Ayer | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
8,645Lowest |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
| Stoughton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoughton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$104,794±$6k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$523,800±$28k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,050±$200 16% above MA |
| Danvers and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,215 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Stoughton |
| High school in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.