Compare towns
Gloucester vs Upton vs Danvers vs Rockport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gloucester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Danvers has the youngest population (median age 45.3).
Rockport has the oldest population (median age 59.7).
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.
| Measure | Gloucester | Upton | Danvers | Rockport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,075Highest |
8,189 |
28,098 |
7,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.2±2.3 26% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
59.7±3.3Highest 49% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
38.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Danvers and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,883±$6kLowest 19% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$96,250±$15k 7% below MA |
| Upton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,600±$18k 7% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$746,100±$47kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,411±$94 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,851±$219 5% above MA |
| Danvers and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,152Lowest about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,215 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
71.1%±17Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rockport and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Rockport 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 | #164 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #124 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gloucester | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Rockport |
| High school in town | Gloucester High | Blackstone Valley | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Rockport Middle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
11.2 |
12.8Highest |
8.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.