Compare towns
Smithfield vs Danvers vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).
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 | Smithfield | Danvers | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
28,098Highest |
22,220Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Danvers and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$97,764±$8kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$485,000±$25k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,579±$118 12% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,393 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #91 of 282 in MA | #20 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Bristol Warren |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Mt. Hope High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.