Compare towns
Danvers vs Lowell vs Worcester vs Mansfield
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Mansfield has the most homeowners (73.1%).
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 | Lowell | Worcester | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
118,368 |
207,055Highest |
23,931Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
| Danvers and Mansfield 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% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Danvers and Mansfield 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 |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Danvers and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Danvers and Mansfield 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 |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Mansfield 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Lowell | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Lowell High | South High Community | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
14.8Highest |
14.6 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.