What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has the most people working from home (19.3%).

Methuen has the most kids (21.3% 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.

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

Measure	Danvers	Methuen
People
Population	28,098Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.3±3Highest 13% above MA	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	31%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA	$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA
	Danvers and Methuen 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	$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA	$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,654Highest 11% above MA	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Danvers and Methuen 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%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	72.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#91 of 282 in MA	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers	Methuen
High school in town	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.1Highest
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.