Compare towns
Danvers vs Dalton vs Lee 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 people working from home (19.3%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Dalton | Lee | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
6,256 |
5,719Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
| Lee and Dalton 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% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton 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% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Dalton 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% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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 |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee 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% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
22 min 24% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Lee 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Central Berkshire | Lee | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Wahconah Regional High | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.9 |
9.2Lowest |
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| 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.