Compare towns
Exeter vs Danvers vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Danvers | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Lowest |
28,098Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #91 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.