Compare towns
Ayer vs Danvers vs Wenham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Wenham has the highest household income ($195k).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Ayer | Danvers | Wenham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
28,098Highest |
4,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Danvers and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wenham and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #74 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.