Compare towns
Middleton vs Worcester vs Danvers vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Danvers has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% 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 | Worcester | Danvers | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816Lowest |
207,055Highest |
28,098 |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.8±3 7% 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Hanson 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| 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 32% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| 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 47% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Middleton 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | — | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.