Compare towns
Danvers vs Epsom vs Dalton vs Middleton
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 people working from home (19.3%).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 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 | Epsom | Dalton | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
4,939Lowest |
6,256 |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
47.1±3.4 21% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Epsom 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% |
18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epsom 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 55% above U.S. |
$97,941±$13k 21% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$338,400±$19k about the U.S. average |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,212±$437 14% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,210 99% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Danvers 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Epsom 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | #192 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Epsom School District | Central Berkshire | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.