Compare towns
Danvers vs Hampton Falls vs Nelson 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 most renters (30.8% rent).
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Nelson | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
2,328 |
648Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Nelson 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danvers and Middleton 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. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$742,700±$48k 123% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers and Nelson 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Hampton Falls 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 | — | — | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hampton Falls School District | Nelson School District | Middleton |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.