Compare towns
Danvers vs Peterborough vs Peterborough vs Mansfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Peterborough has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Peterborough has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Peterborough | Peterborough | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
6,408 |
2,539Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9 34% above U.S. |
55.5±9.2Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Peterborough 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% |
16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peterborough and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mansfield 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±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
$85,833±$15kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
| 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 94% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31k 22% above U.S. |
$379,300±$57kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28k 81% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,395±$209Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,515±$290 7% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,422 138% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers and Mansfield 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% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mansfield and Danvers 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | #59 of 120 in NH | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Conval Regional High School | — | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.0 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.