Compare towns

Beverly vs Deerfield vs Danvers 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%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Wenham has the highest household income ($195k).
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.

MeasureBeverlyDeerfieldDanversWenham
People
Population
42,665Highest
5,158
28,098
4,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-0.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+2.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39±1.8
about the MA average
51.8±3.6Highest
30% above MA
45.3±3
13% above MA
29.3±9.3Lowest
27% below MA
Deerfield 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%
13.2%±3.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2
MA: 19.4%
18.9%±3.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
Wenham and Beverly 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%
22.9%±4.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
14.6%±3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Deerfield 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%
44.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
48.4%
MA: 47.3%
70.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.3%±0.8
MA: 7.9%
7.9%±3.4
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
27.8%±1.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,044±$7kLowest
about the MA average
$106,136±$14k
about the MA average
$125,395±$10k
21% above MA
$194,781±$33kHighest
87% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$650,300±$13k
16% above MA
$414,900±$37kLowest
26% below MA
$644,200±$23k
15% above MA
$885,400±$48kHighest
58% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,771±$106
about the MA average
$1,334±$318Lowest
24% below MA
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,836
14% above MA
$5,824Lowest
about the MA average
$6,654
11% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.5%±7.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
26.1%±15.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
43.3%±20.8
MA: 51.8%
Beverly and Danvers 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%
7.8%
MA: 10%
4.8%
MA: 10%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
60.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
78.4%
MA: 62.5%
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
85.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
1961
3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
3% above MA
18 minLowest
40% below MA
28 min
about the MA average
28 min
5% below MA
Work from home
22.3%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
17.5%±6.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
29.4%±5.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
Wenham 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 #156 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #74 of 282 in MA
School district Beverly Deerfield · Frontier Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Hamilton-Wenham
High school in town Beverly High Frontier Regional Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
11.1Lowest
12.8Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.