Compare towns
South Hampton vs Danvers vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Danvers has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | South Hampton | Danvers | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
28,098Highest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Danvers and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197 40% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Plainville |
| 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 Our Story | 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.

