Compare towns
Danvers vs Stratham vs Exeter vs Mansfield
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Stratham | Exeter | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
7,754Lowest |
16,151 |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Mansfield 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Mansfield 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 55% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28k 81% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Mansfield 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Exeter High School | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.1 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 59 photos → | 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.