Compare towns
Danvers vs Oakham vs Westhampton vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Westhampton has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
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 | Oakham | Westhampton | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
1,639 |
1,552Lowest |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
| Westhampton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Westhampton 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% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,476 8% above MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | — | — | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Quabbin | Hampshire · Westhampton | — |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.