What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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	Alton
People
Population	28,098Highest	5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S.	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22%	13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Danvers and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S.	$113,715±$19kLowest 41% above U.S.
	Danvers and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S.	$430,400±$37kLowest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192 47% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,654Highest 113% above U.S.	$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Danvers and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Danvers and Alton 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	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.