Compare towns

Danvers vs Bellingham 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).
Bellingham has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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.

MeasureDanversBellinghamStoughton
People
Population
28,098
5,325Lowest
29,225Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3
13% above MA
44±7.6Lowest
10% above MA
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%
18.4%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
18.5%±1.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Stoughton and Bellingham 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%
18.6%±4.6Lowest
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%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
41.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
3.4%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.1%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Stoughton and Danvers 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
$96,763±$14kLowest
7% below MA
$104,794±$6k
about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$431,200±$23kLowest
23% below MA
$523,800±$28k
7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$2,009±$358Lowest
14% above 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
$4,477Lowest
25% below MA
$6,215
4% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
74.7%±25.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
68.4%±7.1
MA: 51.8%
Bellingham and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
MA: 10%
1.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
68.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
74.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
34 minHighest
18% above MA
33 min
15% above MA
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
18%±4.3
MA: 18.6%
15.4%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Danvers and Bellingham 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 #232 of 282 in MA #196 of 282 in MA
School district — — Stoughton
High school in town — — Stoughton High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.8
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.