Compare towns
Beverly vs Cavendish vs Reading 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
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Cavendish | Reading | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
1,242 |
699Lowest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
| Reading and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
| Beverly and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 119% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Beverly 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 | — | — | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Beverly High | None in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.