Compare towns

Oakham vs Danvers vs New Braintree

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
New Braintree has the most kids (20% under 18).

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.

MeasureOakhamDanversNew Braintree
People
Population
1,639
28,098Highest
973Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-0.3%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49±2.3Highest
23% above MA
45.3±3Lowest
13% above MA
47.8±4.6
20% above MA
Oakham and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±3.1
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
New Braintree and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±2.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
25.6%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
New Braintree and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
41.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.1
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Danvers and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,000±$20k
about the MA average
$125,395±$10kHighest
21% above MA
$99,500±$8kLowest
4% below MA
Danvers and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$420,100±$20k
25% below MA
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$408,800±$27kLowest
27% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81Lowest
33% below MA
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,484±$316
16% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,103Lowest
32% below MA
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$5,508
8% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.8%±69.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
51.4%±51.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
New Braintree and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.8%
MA: 10%
7.2%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.8%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1987Highest
23 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 minHighest
32% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
37 min
26% above MA
Work from home
9.6%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.4%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #91 of 282 in MA —
School district Quabbin Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Quabbin
High school in town None in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.