What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Hadley
People
Population	28,098Highest	5,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA	45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA
	Hadley and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Danvers and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hadley and Danvers 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 MA: 47.3%	61.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hadley 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±$10kHighest 21% above MA	$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA
	Danvers and Hadley 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	$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA	$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,654Highest 11% above MA	$5,271Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%	38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Danvers and Hadley 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%	6.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest about the MA average	20 minLowest 33% below MA
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hadley 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	#116 of 282 in MA
School district	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers	Hadley
High school in town	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School	Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	7.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.