What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k 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.

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

Measure	Danvers	Russell
People
Population	28,098Highest	1,197Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA	47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA
	Russell and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Danvers and Russell 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%	30.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3 MA: 7.9%	4%±4.3 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA	$108,750±$24kLowest 5% above MA
	Danvers and Russell 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	$303,300±$32kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA	$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,654Highest 11% above MA	$5,104Lowest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%	25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Danvers and Russell 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%	6.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963 1 yr older than MA	1963 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest 3% above MA
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	9.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#91 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.