Compare towns
Danvers vs Hanover vs Stoughton
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
8,479Lowest |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Stoughton 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 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoughton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$104,794±$6kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Hanover 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±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$523,800±$28kLowest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$2,050±$200Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,215Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.4%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Stoughton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.