Compare towns
Danvers vs Erving vs Northfield
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%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Erving | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
1,703Lowest |
2,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
| Northfield 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% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Danvers and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield 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 |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,594 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northfield 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 MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Northfield 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 | — | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Erving | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.