Compare towns
Amesbury vs Chester vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k 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.
| Measure | Amesbury | Chester | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403 |
5,300Lowest |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
| Chester and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
| Chester and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42k 66% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Lowest 19% above U.S. |
— | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 136% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Amesbury 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #90 of 120 in NH | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Chester School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.