Compare towns
Danvers vs Webster vs Mansfield vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Mansfield | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
2,227Lowest |
23,931 |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mansfield 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±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$603,500±$28k 81% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #60 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Merrimack Valley School District | Mansfield | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Mansfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.