Compare towns
Danvers vs North Smithfield vs Woonsocket vs Middleton
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 people working from home (19.3%).
North Smithfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | North Smithfield | Woonsocket | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
12,708 |
43,521Highest |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield 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% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and North Smithfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and North Smithfield 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. |
$108,866±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,282±$531 9% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers and Woonsocket 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and North Smithfield 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 | #13 of 38 in RI | #37 of 38 in RI | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | North Smithfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | North Smitfield HS | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
15.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.