Compare towns

Danvers vs Sterling vs Danvers

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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.

MeasureDanversSterlingDanvers
People
Population
28,098Highest
3,629Lowest
28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Highest
16% above U.S.
39.4±5.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.3±3Highest
16% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$102,695±$12kLowest
27% above U.S.
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% above U.S.
$283,400±$17kLowest
15% below U.S.
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192
47% above U.S.
—
$2,076±$192
47% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
$4,551Lowest
46% above U.S.
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #91 of 282 in MA #119 of 149 in CT #91 of 282 in MA
School district — Sterling School District Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town — None in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.