Compare towns
Danvers vs Needham vs Beverly vs Stoughton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Stoughton has the most affordable homes ($524k 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.
| Measure | Danvers | Needham | Beverly | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Lowest |
32,459 |
42,665Highest |
29,225 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
| Stoughton 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 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,050±$200 16% above MA |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$6,215Lowest 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
8.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
33 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Beverly | Stoughton |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Beverly High | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
12.2Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.