What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).

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	Thompson
People
Population	28,098Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Danvers and Thompson 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.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,654Highest 113% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Danvers 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%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963 17 yrs older than U.S.	1963 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Danvers and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers	Thompson School District
High school in town	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.