Compare towns
Danvers vs Exeter vs Stoughton
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stoughton has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
16,151Lowest |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoughton and Danvers 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$104,794±$6kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$523,800±$28k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,050±$200 45% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,215Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoughton and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Exeter High School | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1 |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.