What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lunenburg	Danvers
People
Population	11,902Lowest	28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA	45.3±3Highest 13% above MA
	Danvers and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lunenburg and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Danvers and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lunenburg and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA	$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA
	Danvers and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA	$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Lowest 12% above MA	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA
	Danvers and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Lowest 7% above MA	$6,654Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Danvers and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest MA: 10%	4.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	28 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Danvers and Lunenburg 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	#87 of 282 in MA	#91 of 282 in MA
School district	Lunenburg	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town	Lunenburg High	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	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.