Compare towns
Upton vs Needham vs Danvers vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Danvers has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($477k 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 | Upton | Needham | Danvers | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
32,459Highest |
28,098 |
30,431 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$476,700±$12kLowest 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,909±$137 8% above MA |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$5,869Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Milford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
7.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Needham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Milford |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Needham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
11.9 |
12.8Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.