Compare towns
Danvers vs Northbridge vs Temple 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%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
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 | Northbridge | Temple | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
16,458 |
1,363Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Temple 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Danvers 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Middleton 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% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Danvers 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. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Danvers 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Temple 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 | — | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Northbridge | Contoocook Valley School District | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Northbridge High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.