What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).

Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainville	Danvers
People
Population	9,943Lowest	28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA	45.3±3Highest 13% above MA
	Danvers and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±4Highest MA: 19.4%	17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Plainville and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Danvers and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Plainville and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average	$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA
	Danvers and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA	$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,977±$197Lowest 12% above MA	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA
	Danvers and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,329Lowest 11% below MA	$6,654Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8%	48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Plainville and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest MA: 10%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Danvers and Plainville 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	#102 of 282 in MA	#91 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainville	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

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.