Compare towns

Danvers vs Natick vs Sherborn

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 affordable homes ($644k median).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).

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.

MeasureDanversNatickSherborn
People
Population
28,098
36,873Highest
4,427Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+12.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.8%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
43.3±1.4
8% above MA
42.8±2.3Lowest
7% above MA
Danvers and Natick 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%
21.2%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
29.2%±4.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±1.9
MA: 17.9%
16.3%±3.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Danvers and Natick 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%
70.8%
MA: 47.3%
82.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
5%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.1%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Natick 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
$138,538±$11k
33% above MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23kLowest
15% above MA
$821,000±$25k
46% above MA
$1,026,800±$72kHighest
83% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Lowest
18% above MA
$2,134±$124
21% above MA
$2,338±$316Highest
33% above MA
Sherborn and Natick 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
$8,914
49% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
41.7%±6.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
48%±26.3
MA: 51.8%
Danvers and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
MA: 10%
5.8%Highest
MA: 10%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
68.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1968Highest
4 yrs newer than MA
1968Highest
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
31 min
5% above MA
35 minHighest
21% above MA
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
25.1%±1.9
MA: 18.6%
49.1%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #91 of 282 in MA #48 of 282 in MA #53 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Natick Sherborn
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Natick High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
12.6Lowest
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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.