Compare towns

Beverly vs Mashpee 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 the most renters (39.9% rent).
Mashpee has the oldest population (median age 55.9).
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.

MeasureBeverlyMashpeeDanversWenham
People
Population
42,665Highest
15,384
28,098
4,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+7.5%
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+2.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39±1.8
about the MA average
55.9±1.8Highest
40% above MA
45.3±3
13% above MA
29.3±9.3Lowest
27% below MA
Kids under 18
18.5%±1.8
MA: 19.4%
14.7%±2.3Lowest
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%
33.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
14.6%±3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.4%
MA: 47.3%
44.3%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%
4.5%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
27.8%±1.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,044±$7k
about the MA average
$95,299±$13kLowest
8% below MA
$125,395±$10k
21% above MA
$194,781±$33kHighest
87% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$650,300±$13k
16% above MA
$562,200±$29kLowest
about the MA average
$644,200±$23k
15% above MA
$885,400±$48kHighest
58% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,771±$106Lowest
about the MA average
$1,776±$330
about the MA average
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
—
Danvers and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,836
14% above MA
$3,762Lowest
37% below MA
$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%
44.7%±14.5
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
43.3%±20.8Lowest
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%
5.5%
MA: 10%
4.8%
MA: 10%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
60.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
81.9%
MA: 62.5%
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
85.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1988Highest
24 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
27 minLowest
6% below MA
28 min
about the MA average
28 min
5% below MA
Work from home
22.3%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
14.5%±3Lowest
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 #100 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #74 of 282 in MA
School district Beverly Mashpee Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Hamilton-Wenham
High school in town Beverly High Mashpee Middle-High School Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
9.6Lowest
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.