Compare towns
Maynard vs Needham vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
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 | Maynard | Needham | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
32,459Highest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% 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 | $8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 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 | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Needham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Needham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.9 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.