Compare towns
Danvers vs Stoneham vs Needham vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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.
| Measure | Danvers | Stoneham | Needham | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
23,355Lowest |
32,459Highest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Stoneham 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 |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above 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 | $6,654 11% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest 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% MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Stoneham | Needham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | — | Stoneham High | Needham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.9 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.