Compare towns
Danvers vs Gloucester vs Lancaster vs Mansfield
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%).
Gloucester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Gloucester | Lancaster | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
30,075Highest |
8,606Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
50.2±2.3Highest 26% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Gloucester and Danvers 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Lancaster and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$600,600±$18k 7% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Danvers and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,411±$94Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$6,152Lowest about the MA average |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Gloucester 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
63.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #164 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Gloucester | Nashoba | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Gloucester High | None in town | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
| 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.