Compare towns
Wenham vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Sutton | Danvers | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,929Lowest |
9,452 |
28,098Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Danvers and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Topsfield and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Wenham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% 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% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Danvers and Sutton 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% 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 |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #74 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Sutton | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
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.