Compare towns
Amesbury vs Plainfield 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 kids (20% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Amesbury | Plainfield | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403 |
15,141Lowest |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%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% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Plainfield School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Plainfield High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
10.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.