What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Danvers	Durham
People
Population	28,098Highest	15,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S.
	Danvers and Durham 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.	$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S.	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham and Danvers 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.