Compare towns

Danvers vs Upton vs Dover

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 most renters (30.8% rent).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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.

MeasureDanversUptonDover
People
Population
28,098Highest
8,189
5,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3
13% above MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
44.9±2.3Lowest
12% above MA
Upton 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%
23.2%±4.5
MA: 19.4%
26%±5.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Dover and Upton 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%
20.7%±4.9
MA: 17.9%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Danvers and Upton 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
MA: 47.3%
53.5%
MA: 47.3%
84.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Dover 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±$10kLowest
21% above MA
$155,508±$33k
50% above MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23k
15% above MA
$576,700±$41kLowest
about the MA average
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
138% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192
18% above MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$2,917±$2kHighest
66% above MA
Dover and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654Lowest
11% above MA
$8,376
40% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31Highest
MA: 51.8%
20%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Upton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
35 minHighest
22% above MA
35 min
19% above MA
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
34.2%±6.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
Dover and Upton 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 #46 of 282 in MA #1 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Dover · Dover-Sherborn
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Blackstone Valley Dover-Sherborn Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.2
9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.