Compare towns
Thompson vs Danvers vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Danvers | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Lowest |
28,098Highest |
11,511 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stafford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danvers and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,086±$85 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,131 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #91 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
9.8 |
| 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.