Compare towns
Danvers vs Hanover vs Windham vs Mansfield
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 population (median age 45.3).
Hanover has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Windham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
11,685Lowest |
16,038 |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3 6% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Mansfield 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Mansfield 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% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Hanover 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15kLowest 55% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hanover 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. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28kLowest 81% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Windham School District | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Hanover High School | Windham High School | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.