Compare towns
Wenham vs Needham vs Danvers vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Danvers has the most affordable homes ($644k median).
Topsfield has the most homeowners (90.4%).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Needham | Danvers | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,929Lowest |
32,459Highest |
28,098 |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Danvers and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $194,781±$33k 87% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
| Needham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $885,400±$48k 58% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Needham and Danvers 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Wenham 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Needham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.