Compare towns
Nelson vs Danvers vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 | Nelson | Danvers | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
28,098Highest |
939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Newington and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danvers and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #91 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | — | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.


