What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).

Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Danvers	Stoneham
People
Population	28,098Highest	23,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3Highest 13% above MA	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA
	Danvers and Stoneham 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%	20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Stoneham 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%	20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Danvers and Stoneham 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%	55.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham 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	$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA
	Danvers and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA	$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA
	Stoneham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA	$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA
	Danvers and Stoneham 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	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Danvers and Stoneham 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%	5.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1964Highest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham 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	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers	Stoneham
High school in town	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.7Lowest
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.