Compare towns
Middleton vs Plainfield vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k 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 | Middleton | Plainfield | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816 |
616Lowest |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
| Plainfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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 61% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Danvers and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.