Compare towns
Topsfield vs Danvers vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the highest household income ($191k).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Topsfield | Danvers | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,624 |
28,098Highest |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±10.9Lowest 6% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
| Danvers and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Danvers and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $191,146±$21kHighest 84% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$113,750±$24kLowest 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $836,600±$60kHighest 49% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$447,600±$33kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$841Lowest 44% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,472 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±47.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Danvers and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Pelham |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.