What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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	Bedford
People
Population	28,098Highest	23,746Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S.	45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Danvers and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Danvers and Bedford 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 U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bedford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,395±$10kLowest 55% above U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S.
	Danvers and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192Lowest 47% above U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
	Bedford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Danvers 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%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#91 of 282 in MA	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers	Bedford School District
High school in town	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.5Highest
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.