Compare towns

Douglas vs Danvers vs Lakeville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Lakeville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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.

MeasureDouglasDanversLakeville
People
Population
9,207Lowest
28,098Highest
11,944
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6
10% above MA
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
43.8±1.9Lowest
9% above MA
Danvers and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.2%±2.7
MA: 19.4%
Douglas and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.3%±2.1
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
38.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.7%±1.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Lakeville and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$152,267±$10kHighest
46% above MA
$125,395±$10kLowest
21% above MA
$133,984±$11k
29% above MA
Douglas and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$470,600±$29kLowest
16% below MA
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$565,900±$27k
about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697Lowest
15% below MA
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,884±$466
7% above MA
Danvers and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,338
6% above MA
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$5,536Lowest
8% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
57.5%±18.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
Lakeville 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%
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1984
20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
16% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
33 min
14% above MA
Work from home
20.9%±4.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
15.2%±5.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Douglas 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 #177 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #96 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas — Freetown-Lakeville
High school in town Douglas High School — Apponequet Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
—
10.9Highest
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.