Compare towns
Danvers vs Exeter vs Mansfield vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Exeter | Mansfield | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
16,151 |
23,931 |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28k 81% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mansfield and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #60 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mansfield | Middleton |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Mansfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.