Compare towns
Danvers vs Reading vs Danvers vs Stoughton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Reading | Danvers | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
25,612Lowest |
28,098 |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoughton 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±$10k 21% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,050±$200 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,215Lowest 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Stoughton |
| High school in town | — | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
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.