Compare towns
Danvers vs Lee vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Lee | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
5,719Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Northbridge 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Danvers and Northbridge 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 |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Northbridge 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Lee | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Lee Middle/High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.2Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.