Compare towns
Middleton vs Smithfield vs Hanson 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%).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k median).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Danvers has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Smithfield | Hanson | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816Lowest |
22,233 |
10,660 |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Middleton 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% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson 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% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #149 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Smithfield | Whitman-Hanson | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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.