Compare towns
Danvers vs Hatfield vs Hudson vs Middleton
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 renters (30.8% rent).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hudson has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Hatfield | Hudson | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
3,325Lowest |
20,077 |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Hatfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield 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±$10k 21% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Danvers and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hudson 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hatfield | Hudson | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Smith Academy | Hudson High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
6.1Lowest |
10.2 |
— |
| 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.