Compare towns
Danvers vs Northbridge vs Windsor Locks 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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Windsor Locks | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
16,458 |
12,579 |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%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%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Northbridge 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% |
10.9%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% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below 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% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Northbridge | Windsor Locks School District | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Northbridge High | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.8 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.