Compare towns
Danvers vs Danvers vs Northbridge vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Northbridge | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
28,098Highest |
16,458 |
15,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Northbridge | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.