Compare towns
Eliot vs Danvers vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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.
| Measure | Eliot | Danvers | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
28,098Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #91 of 282 in MA | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.