Compare towns

Northbridge vs Danvers vs Stoughton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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.

MeasureNorthbridgeDanversStoughton
People
Population
16,458Lowest
28,098
29,225Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+8.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±2.6Lowest
9% above MA
45.3±3
13% above MA
45.7±1.9Highest
14% above MA
Stoughton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18.5%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
Northbridge and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.4%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.8%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
Danvers and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
41.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.1%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Stoughton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,319±$19k
7% above MA
$125,395±$10kHighest
21% above MA
$104,794±$6kLowest
about the MA average
Danvers and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$448,600±$15kLowest
20% below MA
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$523,800±$28k
7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,207±$102Lowest
31% below MA
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$2,050±$200
16% above MA
Danvers and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,821Lowest
20% below MA
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$6,215
4% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.2%±9.8
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
68.4%±7.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
7.9%
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.5%
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
74.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
9 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
7% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
33 minHighest
15% above MA
Work from home
16.2%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
15.4%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Danvers and Northbridge 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 #226 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #196 of 282 in MA
School district Northbridge Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Stoughton
High school in town Northbridge High Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Stoughton High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8Lowest
12.8Highest
10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.