Compare towns
Townsend vs Danvers vs Ashby vs Holbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Holbrook has the most kids (21.2% 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 | Townsend | Danvers | Ashby | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
28,098Highest |
3,211Lowest |
11,380 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
| Ashby and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
| Danvers and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
$6,105 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Ashby 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | North Middlesex | Holbrook |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.8Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.