Compare towns
Nelson vs Danvers vs Stoddard vs South Hampton
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).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Stoddard | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648Lowest |
28,098Highest |
1,072 |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danvers and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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±$49k about the U.S. average |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
| Danvers and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #91 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Stoddard School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.