Compare towns
Middleton vs Putney 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k 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 | Putney | Danvers | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816 |
2,622Lowest |
28,098Highest |
8,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below 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%±3 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Boxford 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% |
48.6% 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% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29k 107% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$776±$13 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785 182% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% 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% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older 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. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boxford 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #91 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Boxford · Masconomet |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Masconomet Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.