Compare towns
Sherborn vs Danvers vs Dover vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Danvers has the most affordable homes ($644k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Sherborn | Danvers | Dover | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,427Lowest |
28,098Highest |
5,930 |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Danvers and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 82.3% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,026,800±$72k 83% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$316 33% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Dover and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±26.3 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Danvers and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #53 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sherborn | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.