Compare towns
Middleton vs Ware vs Danvers vs Topsfield
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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 | Ware | Danvers | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816 |
10,048 |
28,098Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 8% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| 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%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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±$29k 61% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| 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 32% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,115±$538 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785 47% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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 MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 3% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Ware | — | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.