Compare towns
Danvers vs Stoddard vs Francestown
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 the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Stoddard | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
1,072Lowest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5 32% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Francestown and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoddard and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danvers and Stoddard 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. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$104,063±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Francestown 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. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$408,200±$34k 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,358±$256 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and Stoddard 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Francestown 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 | — | — |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Stoddard School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.