Compare towns

Amesbury vs Oxford 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).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
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.

MeasureAmesburyOxfordDanvers
People
Population
17,403
13,385Lowest
28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±1.7
9% above MA
42±2.8Lowest
5% 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%
21.3%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Oxford 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%
16.6%±2.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%
MA: 47.3%
29.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
6.7%±2.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Oxford 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
about the MA average
$103,862±$10k
about the MA average
$125,395±$10kHighest
21% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$519,300±$32k
8% below MA
$374,900±$18kLowest
33% below MA
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,683±$115
4% below MA
$1,177±$142Lowest
33% below MA
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,360Highest
23% above MA
$4,622Lowest
23% below MA
$6,654
11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.7%±10.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
57.8%±15.9
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Amesbury and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%
MA: 10%
7.7%Highest
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
82.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
about the MA average
28 minLowest
about the MA average
28 min
about the MA average
Work from home
17.4%±2.8
MA: 18.6%
16.4%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
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 #245 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA
School district Amesbury Oxford Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town Amesbury High Oxford High Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9
10.3Lowest
12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.