Compare towns
Danvers vs Reading vs Middleton vs Mansfield
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Middleton | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
699Lowest |
9,816 |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mansfield and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mansfield 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 55% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28k 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Mansfield 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Mansfield 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 | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Middleton | Mansfield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.