What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dover	Danvers
People
Population	33,364Highest	28,098Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.	45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Danvers and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dover and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S.	$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S.	$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S.	$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.	$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Danvers and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Danvers and Dover 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	#64 of 120 in NH	#91 of 282 in MA
School district	Dover School District	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town	Dover Senior High School	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.