Compare towns
Nelson vs Danvers vs Wilmot
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Wilmot has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
28,098Highest |
1,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
53±2.4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Wilmot 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% 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%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danvers and Wilmot 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±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$117,759±$15k 46% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Wilmot 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±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$399,600±$43k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,125±$289Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$6,651 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers and Wilmot 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% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.