Compare towns

Putney vs Danvers vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).

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.

MeasurePutneyDanversBrookline
People
Population
2,622
28,098Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
45.3±3Highest
16% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
Danvers and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2
U.S.: 22%
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Danvers and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,732±$232
23% above U.S.
Danvers and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Danvers 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 #32 of 70 in VT #91 of 282 in MA —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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 History 6 photos → 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.