Compare towns

Walpole vs Danvers vs Milton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k 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.

MeasureWalpoleDanversMilton
People
Population
26,388Lowest
28,098
28,587Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
41.1±1.8
about the MA average
Danvers and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.1%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
25.3%±2.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±1.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
67.4%
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
71.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
9.7%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$171,500±$16k
65% above MA
$125,395±$10kLowest
21% above MA
$188,529±$15kHighest
81% above MA
Milton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$687,100±$20k
22% above MA
$644,200±$23kLowest
15% above MA
$933,200±$31kHighest
66% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,205±$222Highest
25% above MA
$2,076±$192
18% above MA
$1,474±$281Lowest
16% below MA
Walpole and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,523
42% above MA
$6,654Lowest
11% above MA
$9,677Highest
61% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±9.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±20.9
MA: 51.8%
Danvers and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
4.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.5%
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
13 yrs newer than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
15% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
31 min
8% above MA
Work from home
28.2%±4.3
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
29.7%±2.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
Milton and Walpole 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 #107 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #55 of 282 in MA
School district Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Milton
High school in town Walpole High Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Milton High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
12.8Highest
12.4
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.