Compare towns
Danvers vs Freeport vs Topsham
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).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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.
| Measure | Danvers | Freeport | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
8,802Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Danvers 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% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Topsham 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. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Freeport 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. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport 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% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | RSU 05 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Freeport High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.2Lowest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.