What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilford has the most homeowners (93.1%).

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	Gilford	Danvers
People
Population	7,830Lowest	28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±3.9Highest 24% above U.S.	45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Gilford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gilford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Danvers and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Danvers and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,635±$11kLowest 44% above U.S.	$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S.
	Danvers and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,500±$56kLowest 37% above U.S.	$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$747Lowest 19% below U.S.	$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S.
	Danvers and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,868Lowest 56% above U.S.	$6,654Highest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gilford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Danvers and Gilford 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	#45 of 120 in NH	#91 of 282 in MA
School district	Gilford School District	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town	Gilford High School	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	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.