Compare towns
Hudson vs Danvers vs Exeter vs Amesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most homeowners (73.2%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Hudson | Danvers | Exeter | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077 |
28,098Highest |
16,151Lowest |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 121% above U.S. |
$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Hudson 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Exeter High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.1 |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.