Compare towns
Beverly vs Danvers vs Reading vs Woburn
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).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Reading | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
28,098 |
699Lowest |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.3±1.6 about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$111,185±$9k 38% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$673,500±$17kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Woburn and Beverly 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±$192 47% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,221±$77Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Woburn and Danvers 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,354Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.5 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.6Lowest 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 | — | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Woburn |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.8Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.