What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).

Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.

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

Measure	Danvers	Franklin
People
Population	28,098Highest	8,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S.	42.7±2Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Danvers and Franklin 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%	17.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Franklin and Danvers 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%	21.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Danvers and Franklin 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%	19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Danvers and Franklin 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.	$71,648±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S.	$262,200±$22kLowest 21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S.	$1,110±$68Lowest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,654Highest 113% above U.S.	$4,886Lowest 57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Danvers and Franklin 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%	7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#91 of 282 in MA	#112 of 120 in NH
School district	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers	Franklin School District
High school in town	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School	Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	16.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.