Compare towns
Danvers vs Dracut vs Middleborough vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Middleborough has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
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 | Dracut | Middleborough | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
32,574Highest |
24,505Lowest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA |
43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.4% MA: 47.3% |
32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dracut 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±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$468,700±$18kLowest 17% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,839±$130 4% above MA |
$1,706±$72Lowest 3% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$5,375Lowest 10% below MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dracut | Middleborough | — |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dracut Senior High | Middleborough High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.9Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.