Compare towns
Danvers vs Needham vs Needham vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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 | Needham | Needham | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Lowest |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
28,098Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,076±$192Lowest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Needham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | — | — | Needham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.