Compare towns

Danvers vs Walpole vs Middleton

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).
Walpole has the most people working from home (28.2%).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).

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.

MeasureDanversWalpoleMiddleton
People
Population
28,098Highest
26,388
9,816Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+8.8%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
40.9±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
43.1±2
8% above MA
Danvers and Middleton 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%
25.1%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.9%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.1%±2.9
MA: 17.9%
Danvers and Middleton 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%
67.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
41.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Walpole 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
$171,500±$16kHighest
65% above MA
$167,402±$29k
61% above MA
Walpole and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23kLowest
15% above MA
$687,100±$20k
22% above MA
$742,700±$48kHighest
32% above MA
Middleton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192
18% above MA
$2,205±$222Highest
25% above MA
$1,407±$284Lowest
20% below MA
Walpole 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
$8,523
42% above MA
$8,785Highest
47% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
37.8%±9.1
MA: 51.8%
25.7%±25.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Danvers and Walpole 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%
3.6%
MA: 10%
3.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.5%
MA: 62.5%
92.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1977
13 yrs newer than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
34 minHighest
15% above MA
30 min
3% above MA
Work from home
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
28.2%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #91 of 282 in MA #107 of 282 in MA #71 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole Middleton
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Walpole High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.3Lowest
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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.