What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayland has the most people working from home (35.1%).

Danvers has the most affordable homes ($644k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wayland	Danvers
People
Population	13,914Lowest	28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±1.5Lowest 13% above MA	45.3±3Highest 13% above MA
	Danvers and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.7%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Danvers and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	78.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Danvers and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA	$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA	$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA
	Danvers and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,654Lowest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8%	48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Danvers and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Highest MA: 10%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	28 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#18 of 282 in MA	#91 of 282 in MA
School district	Wayland	—
High school in town	Wayland High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.