Compare towns
Danvers vs Webster vs Danvers vs Stoughton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($333k median).
Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Webster | Danvers | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
12,228Lowest |
28,098 |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
| Stoughton 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% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Stoughton 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% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoughton and Webster 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 |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$104,794±$6k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$523,800±$28k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,050±$200 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$6,215 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — | — | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — | — | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.