Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Plainville vs Danvers vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Lunenburg | Plainville | Danvers | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902 |
9,943 |
28,098Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Danvers and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586 12% above MA |
$1,977±$197 12% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
| Danvers and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 7% above MA |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Danvers 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% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Danvers 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Plainville | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Douglas |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | 12.8Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.