Compare towns
Danvers vs Burlington vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Peabody has the most kids (18.7% 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 | Danvers | Burlington | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
26,274Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
45.3±2.4Lowest 13% above MA |
| Burlington and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Peabody and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Burlington and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Burlington and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,950±$99Lowest 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$6,165 about the MA average |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Burlington and Danvers 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Burlington | Peabody |
| High school in town | — | Burlington High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.