Compare towns
Gorham vs Danvers vs Needham vs Little Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Danvers has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Little Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.9%).
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 | Gorham | Danvers | Needham | Little Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
28,098 |
32,459Highest |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
46.3±21.2Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Little Falls and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±16.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Little Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$127,500±$72k 58% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$375,800±$96kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,205±$101 56% above U.S. |
| Needham and Little Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,041Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
15.3%±31.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #91 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | — | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | — | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 2 photos → |
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.