Compare towns
Danvers vs Bolton vs Berlin vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Bolton | Berlin | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
5,737 |
3,378Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin 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±$10k 21% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
| Bolton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
| Bolton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin 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% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
92.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Berlin 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Nashoba Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.0Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.