Compare towns
Danvers vs Townsend vs Mansfield vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Townsend | Mansfield | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
9,100Lowest |
23,931 |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Mansfield 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | North Middlesex | Mansfield | — |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | North Middlesex Regional | Mansfield High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.