Compare towns
Middlefield vs Danvers vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Middlefield | Danvers | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
28,098Highest |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Danvers and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$89,390±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
| Danvers and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Middlefield and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926 18% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$4,522Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Middlefield 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Gateway |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.