Compare towns
Danvers vs Hatfield vs Rowley 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 people working from home (19.3%).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
Rowley has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Rowley | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
3,325 |
1,708Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
| Hatfield and Rowley 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% |
18.3%±6.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley 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% |
23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
57.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Hatfield 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 |
$109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
| Danvers and Rowley 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 |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,865 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% |
46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Danvers and Rowley 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% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
78.6% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older 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 |
25 min 15% below MA |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Hatfield 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hatfield | — | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Smith Academy | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
6.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.