Compare towns
Danvers vs Mansfield vs Middleton 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 the shortest commute (28 min average).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
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 | Mansfield | Middleton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
23,931 |
9,816Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Danvers and Northbridge 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% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Northbridge 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% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Middleton 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% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield 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±$10k 21% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| 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 |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Mansfield | Middleton | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Mansfield High | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1 |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.