Compare towns
Danvers vs Deerfield vs Sunderland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Deerfield has the oldest population (median age 51.8).
Sunderland has the most renters (58% rent).
Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Deerfield | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
5,158 |
3,641Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA |
| Deerfield and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Danvers and Deerfield 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% |
22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Deerfield 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% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$68,083±$3kLowest 35% below MA |
| Danvers and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$458,100±$52k 19% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,672±$151 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$5,611Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the MA average |
18 min 40% below MA |
17 minLowest 41% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Deerfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #220 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Deerfield · Frontier | Sunderland |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Frontier Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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| 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.