Compare towns
Danvers vs Middleton vs Ogunquit vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% 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.
| Measure | Danvers | Middleton | Ogunquit | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
9,816 |
1,379Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit 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±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29k 107% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48k 123% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Middleton | — | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.