What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).

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	Reading
People
Population	28,098Highest	25,612Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3Highest 13% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
	Danvers and Reading 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%	22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Danvers and Reading 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 MA: 47.3%	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Danvers and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA	$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA	$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA	$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA
	Danvers and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,654Lowest 11% above MA	$9,320Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest MA: 10%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#91 of 282 in MA	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers	—
High school in town	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.