Compare towns

Danvers vs Middleton vs Springfield

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 most people working from home (19.3%).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.

MeasureDanversMiddletonSpringfield
People
Population
28,098
9,816Lowest
154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
43.1±2
8% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% 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%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.1%±2.9
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
41.7%
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,395±$10k
21% above MA
$167,402±$29kHighest
61% above MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23k
15% above MA
$742,700±$48kHighest
32% above MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,407±$284
20% below MA
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654
11% above MA
$8,785Highest
47% above MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
25.7%±25.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Springfield 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%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
92.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
about the MA average
30 minHighest
3% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±3.4
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Danvers and Middleton 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 #276 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Middleton Springfield
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School None in town Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.