Compare towns
Amesbury vs Lunenburg vs Plainville vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Lunenburg has the most homeowners (80.7%).
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 | Lunenburg | Plainville | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
11,902 |
9,943Lowest |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.8% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Danvers and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% MA: 47.3% |
44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainville and Lunenburg 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 about the MA average |
$112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
| Danvers and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,974±$586 12% above MA |
$1,977±$197 12% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Danvers and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Plainville 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Lunenburg | Plainville | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Lunenburg High | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.4 |
— | 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.