What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).

Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Hamilton	Danvers
People
Population	7,600Lowest	28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA	45.3±3Highest 13% above MA
	Danvers and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Danvers and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hamilton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,833±$14kHighest 25% above MA	$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA
	Hamilton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA	$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA
	Danvers and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,654Lowest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8%	48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hamilton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest MA: 10%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 11% above MA	28 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hamilton 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	#36 of 282 in MA	#91 of 282 in MA
School district	Hamilton-Wenham	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town	Hamilton-Wenham Regional High	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.