What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).

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	Worcester	Danvers
People
Population	207,055Highest	28,098Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA	45.3±3Highest 13% above MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4%	17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Worcester and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA	$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA	$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA	$6,654Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%	48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest MA: 10%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 17% below MA	28 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#266 of 282 in MA	#91 of 282 in MA
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	—
High school in town	South High Community	—
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6	—
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.