Compare towns

Hampton vs Danvers vs Needham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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.

MeasureHamptonDanversNeedham
People
Population
16,426Lowest
28,098
32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
45.3±3
16% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,233±$9kLowest
18% above U.S.
$125,395±$10k
55% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$550,200±$39kLowest
65% above U.S.
$644,200±$23k
94% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94Lowest
15% above U.S.
$2,076±$192
47% above U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813
118% above U.S.
$6,654Lowest
113% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #31 of 120 in NH #91 of 282 in MA #19 of 282 in MA
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Needham
High school in town Winnacunnet High School Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
12.8Highest
11.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.