Compare towns
Windsor vs Lee vs Danvers vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Windsor | Lee | Danvers | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,065Lowest |
5,719 |
28,098Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Lee and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Danvers and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor and Danvers 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Lee | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.