Compare towns
Danvers vs Needham vs Mansfield vs Hudson
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 renters (30.8% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k 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.
| Measure | Danvers | Needham | Mansfield | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
32,459Highest |
23,931 |
20,077Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
| Danvers and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Hudson 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Needham 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 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
| Needham and Danvers 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
5.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — | Mansfield | Hudson |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — | Mansfield High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.1 |
10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.