Compare towns
Danvers vs Dighton vs Peabody vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 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 | Danvers | Dighton | Peabody | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
8,193Lowest |
54,695Highest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.7±2.9Lowest 7% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dighton and Peabody 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% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.9% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Peabody and Dighton 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 |
$136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
| Dighton 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±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$501,900±$47kLowest 11% below MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$6,452 8% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Peabody | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | — | Bristol County Agricultural High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
10.3Lowest |
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.