Compare towns
Danvers vs Stoughton vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Stoughton has the most affordable homes ($524k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Stoughton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
29,225Highest |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% 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%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Stoughton 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest 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±$10k 21% above MA |
$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,050±$200 16% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$6,215Lowest 4% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Stow 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% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Stoughton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Stoughton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.