Compare towns
Middleton vs Exeter vs Danvers
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 most homeowners (92.7%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Danvers has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Exeter | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816Lowest |
16,151 |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.

