Compare towns

Danvers vs Middleton vs Framingham

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).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% 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.

MeasureDanversMiddletonFramingham
People
Population
28,098
9,816Lowest
72,399Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
43.1±2
8% above MA
37.5±1Lowest
6% below MA
Danvers and Middleton 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%
17.2%±3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.7%±1.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.1%±2.9
MA: 17.9%
15.1%±1.1Lowest
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%
41.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
48.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.5%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,395±$10k
21% above MA
$167,402±$29kHighest
61% above MA
$107,419±$6kLowest
3% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23k
15% above MA
$742,700±$48kHighest
32% above MA
$627,300±$10kLowest
12% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,407±$284Lowest
20% below MA
$2,033±$57
15% above MA
Danvers and Framingham 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
$8,785Highest
47% above MA
$6,884
15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
25.7%±25.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
53.4%±5.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
Framingham 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%
3.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
10.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
92.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
54.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
30 min
3% above MA
30 minHighest
4% above MA
Work from home
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
Framingham 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 #71 of 282 in MA #229 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Middleton Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School None in town Framingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
12.7Lowest
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.