Compare towns

Danvers vs Dover vs Danvers

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).

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.

MeasureDanversDoverDanvers
People
Population
28,098Highest
5,930Lowest
28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
44.9±2.3Lowest
12% above MA
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
Kids under 18
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
26%±5.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
84.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dover 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±$10kLowest
21% above MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$125,395±$10kLowest
21% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23kLowest
15% above MA
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
138% above MA
$644,200±$23kLowest
15% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Lowest
18% above MA
$2,917±$2kHighest
66% above MA
$2,076±$192Lowest
18% above MA
Dover and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654Lowest
11% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$6,654Lowest
11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
20%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1970Highest
6 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
35 minHighest
19% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
34.2%±6.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #91 of 282 in MA #1 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA
School district — Dover · Dover-Sherborn Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town — Dover-Sherborn Regional High Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8Lowest
12.8Highest
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.