Compare towns
Beverly vs Danvers vs Marblehead 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Danvers has the most affordable homes ($644k median).
Marblehead has the most kids (22.3% under 18).
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 | Danvers | Marblehead | Wenham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
28,098 |
20,413 |
4,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
| Marblehead and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead 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% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Danvers 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% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
| Wenham and Marblehead 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 |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$885,400±$48k 58% above MA |
| Marblehead and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Marblehead 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #74 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.