Compare towns
Springfield vs Danvers vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($267k 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.
| Measure | Springfield | Danvers | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
28,098Highest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$81,563±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$267,300±$23kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,243±$163 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,239Lowest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grafton 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — |
| High school 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 | 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.