Compare towns
Danvers vs Dunbarton vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Dunbarton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
3,097Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Dunbarton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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 55% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Strafford 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dunbarton School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.