Compare towns
Beverly vs Danvers vs Nelson vs Peabody
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%).
Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Nelson | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
28,098 |
648Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$596,200±$12k 79% 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. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,950±$99 38% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Nelson School District | Peabody |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.8Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.