Compare towns
Danvers vs Nelson vs South Hampton vs Stoddard
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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | South Hampton | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
648Lowest |
984 |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danvers and Stoddard 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±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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±$49k about the U.S. average |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| South Hampton and Danvers 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. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Danvers and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | — | — | — |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Nelson School District | South Hampton School District | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.