Compare towns

Danvers vs Keene vs Middleton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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.

MeasureDanversKeeneMiddleton
People
Population
28,098Highest
22,939
9,816Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Highest
16% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
43.1±2
11% above U.S.
Danvers and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Danvers and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,395±$10k
55% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$167,402±$29kHighest
107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23k
94% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$742,700±$48kHighest
123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
$1,407±$284
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654Lowest
113% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
$8,785Highest
182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
25.7%±25.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Danvers and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Danvers and Keene 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 #81 of 120 in NH #71 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Keene School District Middleton
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Keene High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
12.3Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.