Compare towns
Danvers vs Hanson vs Douglas 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 the shortest commute (28 min average).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Hanson | Douglas | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
10,660 |
9,207Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Danvers and Douglas 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% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Douglas 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 |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
| Douglas and Hanson 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 |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% 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±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Danvers and Hanson 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 |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Mansfield 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Whitman-Hanson | Douglas | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Douglas High School | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
14.7Highest |
7.2Lowest |
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.