Compare towns
Danvers vs Nelson vs Newburyport
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Newburyport has the most expensive homes ($834k 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 | Nelson | Newburyport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
648Lowest |
18,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49.8±2.9Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Newburyport and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Newburyport 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
67%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danvers and Newburyport 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. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$139,625±$21kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Newburyport and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$834,000±$37kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,592±$221 13% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,944Highest 155% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.4%±9.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers and Newburyport 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Newburyport 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 | — | #56 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Nelson School District | Newburyport |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Newburyport High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.