Compare towns
Danvers vs Grafton vs Northbridge
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 expensive homes ($644k median).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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 | Grafton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
19,902 |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Danvers and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Grafton and Northbridge 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 |
$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Grafton 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 |
$525,300±$37k 7% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,504±$169 15% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$7,117Highest 19% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge 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 MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Grafton 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 | #67 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Grafton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Grafton High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.9Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.