Compare towns
Danvers vs Smithfield vs Danvers vs Stoughton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k median).
Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Smithfield | Danvers | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
22,233Lowest |
28,098 |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Stoughton and Danvers 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% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoughton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$104,794±$6k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$523,800±$28k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$2,050±$200 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$6,215 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoughton and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI | #91 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Smithfield | — | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Smithfield High School | — | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.8 |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.