Compare towns
Beverly vs Acton 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
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Acton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
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 | Beverly | Acton | Danvers | Wenham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
24,155 |
28,098 |
4,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
| Danvers and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
| Wenham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
— |
| Danvers and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Wenham 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #74 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Acton-Boxborough | — | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.