Compare towns

Mansfield vs Danvers vs Needham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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.

MeasureMansfieldDanversNeedham
People
Population
23,931Lowest
28,098
32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
43.1±1.6
8% above MA
Danvers and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
27.5%±2.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
15.4%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.7%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.1%
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
81.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
Mansfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,273±$15kLowest
21% above MA
$125,395±$10k
21% above MA
$214,308±$13kHighest
106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$603,500±$28kLowest
7% above MA
$644,200±$23k
15% above MA
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,803±$147Lowest
about the MA average
$2,076±$192
18% above MA
$2,409±$183Highest
37% above MA
Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,226
21% above MA
$6,654Lowest
11% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
55.9%±8.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%
MA: 10%
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1965
1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
13% above MA
28 min
about the MA average
28 minLowest
5% below MA
Work from home
20%±3.4
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
32.4%±2.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #60 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #19 of 282 in MA
School district Mansfield — —
High school in town Mansfield High — —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
— —
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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.