What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has the most affordable homes ($644k median).

Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Danvers	Melrose
People
Population	28,098Lowest	29,650Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3Highest 13% above MA	43.6±1.1Lowest 9% above MA
	Danvers and Melrose 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%	20.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Melrose and Danvers 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%	20.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Danvers and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Melrose 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±$10kLowest 21% above MA	$133,953±$14kHighest 29% above MA
	Melrose and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA	$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA	$1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA
	Danvers and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,654Lowest 11% above MA	$7,578Highest 26% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Melrose and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest about the MA average	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#91 of 282 in MA	#62 of 282 in MA
School district	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers	Melrose
High school in town	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School	Melrose High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.