Compare towns
Danvers vs Northbridge vs Berlin vs Mansfield
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Northbridge | Berlin | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
16,458 |
3,378Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Danvers 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Danvers and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Danvers and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Mansfield 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Northbridge | Berlin-Boylston | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Northbridge High | None in town | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
| 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.