Compare towns
Middleton vs Reading vs Danvers vs Topsfield
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%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% 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 | Reading | Danvers | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816 |
699Lowest |
28,098Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 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±$29k 107% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Topsfield 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785 182% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% 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% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Reading 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 | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.