Compare towns
Danvers vs Hingham vs Wenham 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).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% 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 | Hingham | Wenham | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
24,283 |
4,929Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Hingham and Danvers 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Wenham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham 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% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
| Wenham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$885,400±$48k 58% above MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
— | $1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Hingham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.7% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Wenham 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #74 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hingham | Hamilton-Wenham | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Hingham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.