What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).

Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Danvers	Plainville
People
Population	28,098Highest	9,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3Highest 13% above MA	43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA
	Danvers and Plainville 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%	18.3%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Plainville 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 MA: 17.9%	22.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Danvers and Plainville 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%	44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Plainville 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 21% above MA	$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average
	Danvers and Plainville 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	$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA	$1,977±$197Lowest 12% above MA
	Danvers and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,654Highest 11% above MA	$5,329Lowest 11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Plainville and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%	7.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest about the MA average	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Danvers and Plainville 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	#102 of 282 in MA
School district	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers	Plainville
High school in town	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.