What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).

South Hadley has the most affordable homes ($358k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Danvers	South Hadley
People
Population	28,098Highest	17,754Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3Highest 13% above MA	42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA
	Danvers and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	South Hadley and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	50.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA	$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA	$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA	$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,654Highest 11% above MA	$5,500Lowest 8% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%	48.7%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Danvers and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%	7.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA	1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest about the MA average	24 minLowest 19% below MA
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	17.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Danvers and South Hadley 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	#216 of 282 in MA
School district	—	South Hadley
High school in town	—	South Hadley High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.