Compare towns

Woburn vs Danvers vs Marlborough

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Danvers has the most homeowners (69.2%).
Marlborough has the most affordable homes ($513k 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.

MeasureWoburnDanversMarlborough
People
Population
41,939Highest
28,098Lowest
41,647
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.6
about the MA average
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
37.5±1.3Lowest
6% below MA
Kids under 18
17.9%±1.7
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.8%±2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Marlborough and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.7%±1.5
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
14.9%±1.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
40.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±1
MA: 7.9%
Woburn and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,185±$9k
7% above MA
$125,395±$10kHighest
21% above MA
$91,968±$9kLowest
12% below MA
Danvers and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$673,500±$17kHighest
20% above MA
$644,200±$23k
15% above MA
$513,100±$28kLowest
9% below MA
Woburn and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,221±$77Highest
26% above MA
$2,076±$192
18% above MA
$1,871±$123Lowest
6% above MA
Woburn and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,354Lowest
11% below MA
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$5,747
4% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.5%±7.5
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
58.9%±6.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
Marlborough and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
9.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
56%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
13% below MA
28 min
about the MA average
30 minHighest
about the MA average
Work from home
16%±2.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.2%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
Danvers and Marlborough 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 #169 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #215 of 282 in MA
School district Woburn Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough
High school in town Woburn High Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Assabet Valley Vocational High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2
12.8Highest
10.1Lowest
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.