Compare towns
Danvers vs Gloucester vs Ipswich vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Gloucester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ipswich has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
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 | Gloucester | Ipswich | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
30,075Highest |
13,930 |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
50.2±2.3Highest 26% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
| Gloucester and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich 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 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Ipswich 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 21% above MA |
$83,883±$6kLowest 19% below MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Middleton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$600,600±$18kLowest 7% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
| Ipswich and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,411±$94 20% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$6,152Lowest about the MA average |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.1%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Gloucester and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
9.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
63.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Ipswich 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 | #164 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Gloucester | Ipswich | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Gloucester High | Ipswich High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.0 |
9.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.