Compare towns

Danvers vs Hudson vs Lee

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 expensive homes ($644k median).
Hudson has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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.

MeasureDanversHudsonLee
People
Population
28,098Highest
20,077
5,719Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.4%
MA: +7.4%
-2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3
13% above MA
42.9±1.7Lowest
7% above MA
55.2±5.8Highest
38% above MA
Kids under 18
17.2%±2
MA: 19.4%
19.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
12.6%±5Lowest
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%
20.1%±2.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
33.4%±6.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
46.1%
MA: 47.3%
44.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5%±2.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Lee 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±$10kHighest
21% above MA
$103,400±$13k
about the MA average
$83,750±$13kLowest
19% below MA
Danvers and Hudson 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
$496,800±$22k
12% below MA
$352,700±$19kLowest
37% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,406±$82
20% below MA
$1,375±$212Lowest
22% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654
11% above MA
$6,892Highest
15% above MA
$3,980Lowest
34% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
40.8%±8.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.3%±21.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
Lee and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.3%
MA: 10%
7.2%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
71.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1970Highest
6 yrs newer than MA
1959Lowest
5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
about the MA average
31 minHighest
6% above MA
18 minLowest
38% below MA
Work from home
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
19.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.4%±7.8Lowest
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 #224 of 282 in MA #209 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Hudson Lee
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Hudson High Lee Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
10.2
9.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.