Compare towns
Danvers vs Williamsburg 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).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
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 | Williamsburg | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
2,694Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
| Williamsburg 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% |
18.6%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Williamsburg and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Williamsburg and Danvers 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% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg 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 21% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg 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 | — | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Williamsburg | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.