Compare towns
Middleton vs Readfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Readfield | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816 |
2,651Lowest |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
| Readfield 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Readfield 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% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danvers and Middleton 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. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers and Readfield 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% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest 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. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | RSU 38 | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.