Compare towns

Danvers vs Brookfield vs Stoughton

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 people working from home (19.3%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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.

MeasureDanversBrookfieldStoughton
People
Population
28,098
3,460Lowest
29,225Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Lowest
13% above MA
52.4±2.1Highest
31% above MA
45.7±1.9
14% above MA
Kids under 18
17.2%±2
MA: 19.4%
13.4%±4.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18.5%±1.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Stoughton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
28.4%±5.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.8%±2.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Brookfield 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
MA: 47.3%
28.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
41.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±3.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
6.1%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
Brookfield and Stoughton 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
$81,250±$37kLowest
22% below MA
$104,794±$6k
about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$341,900±$23kLowest
39% below MA
$523,800±$28k
7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,014±$161Lowest
42% below MA
$2,050±$200
16% above MA
Danvers and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$5,092Lowest
15% below MA
$6,215
4% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
50.7%±11.7
MA: 51.8%
68.4%±7.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Stoughton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
8.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
87.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
74.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
32 min
11% above MA
33 minHighest
15% above MA
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
12%±5.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
15.4%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
Danvers and Stoughton 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 #109 of 282 in MA #196 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Brookfield Stoughton
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School None in town Stoughton High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.