What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has the most people working from home (19.3%).

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.

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

Measure	Danvers	Stoughton
People
Population	28,098Lowest	29,225Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA
	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%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.5%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	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 MA: 17.9%	20.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Danvers and Stoughton 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%	41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Stoughton 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	$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA	$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA	$2,050±$200Lowest 16% above MA
	Danvers and Stoughton 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	$6,215Lowest 4% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%	8.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Danvers and Stoughton 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	#196 of 282 in MA
School district	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers	Stoughton
High school in town	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School	Stoughton High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.8Lowest
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.