Compare towns
Middleton vs Epping vs Danvers vs Boxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Boxford has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Middleton | Epping | Danvers | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816 |
7,430Lowest |
28,098Highest |
8,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29k 107% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48k 123% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785 182% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.2%±60.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Boxford 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #91 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Epping School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Boxford · Masconomet |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Masconomet Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.