Compare towns
Beverly vs Danvers vs Merrimac
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Merrimac has the most homeowners (81.3%).
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 | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
28,098 |
6,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Merrimac 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 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Beverly and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
| Danvers and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$553,400±$38kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 about the MA average |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac 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 MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Danvers 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 | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Pentucket |
| 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 |
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.