Compare towns
Danvers vs Needham vs Middleton vs Danvers
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 people working from home (32.4%).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
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 | Middleton | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
32,459Highest |
9,816Lowest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% 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±2Lowest 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% 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 |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,076±$192 18% 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 | $6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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 MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Middleton | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.