Compare towns

Holderness vs Danvers vs Ashland

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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.

MeasureHoldernessDanversAshland
People
Population
1,917Lowest
28,098Highest
2,183
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±7.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.3±3Highest
16% above U.S.
42.3±11.2
9% above U.S.
Danvers and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Ashland and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.4%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Holderness and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Danvers and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,863±$45k
34% above U.S.
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$54,607±$9kLowest
32% below U.S.
Danvers and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,100±$60k
9% above U.S.
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% above U.S.
$227,000±$29kLowest
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$385
46% above U.S.
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,096±$155Lowest
22% below U.S.
Danvers and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,923Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
$4,961
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.1%±14.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Danvers and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
21.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #91 of 282 in MA —
School district Holderness School District — Ashland School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.