Compare towns
Danvers vs Danvers vs Ludlow vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Danvers | Ludlow | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
28,098Highest |
20,904Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Ludlow 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 |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$4,918Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ludlow and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Mansfield 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Ludlow | Mansfield |
| High school in town | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Ludlow Senior High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.