Compare towns
Lancaster vs Danvers vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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.
| Measure | Lancaster | Danvers | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
28,098Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Danvers and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Pepperell and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Lancaster and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Lancaster and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.