Compare towns
Danvers vs Ayer vs Danvers vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Ayer | Danvers | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
8,645Lowest |
28,098Highest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.5 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.