Compare towns
Beverly vs Marblehead vs Wayland vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the youngest population (median age 39).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Wayland has the highest household income ($224k).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 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 | Marblehead | Wayland | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
20,413 |
13,914Lowest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
45±1.5 13% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above 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% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wayland and Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 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% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
78.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
| Wayland 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 |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
| Wayland and Marblehead 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 |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wayland and Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #18 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Marblehead | Wayland | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Marblehead High | Wayland High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
10.7Lowest |
10.9 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.