Compare towns
Topsham vs Danvers vs Freeport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
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 | Topsham | Danvers | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
28,098Highest |
8,802Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #91 of 282 in MA | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| 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.