Compare towns
Needham vs Mansfield vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k 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 | Needham | Mansfield | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
23,931Lowest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Danvers and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Mansfield | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Needham High | Mansfield High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
11.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.