Compare towns

Danvers vs Marshfield 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).
Marshfield has the most people working from home (24.8%).
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.

MeasureDanversMarshfieldPeabody
People
Population
28,098
25,879Lowest
54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Lowest
13% above MA
45.9±2.6Highest
15% above MA
45.3±2.4Lowest
13% above MA
Marshfield and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.7%±1.8
MA: 19.4%
Marshfield 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%
20.2%±2Lowest
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%
52.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
35%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Peabody and Danvers 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
$125,986±$8kHighest
21% above MA
$96,657±$4kLowest
7% below MA
Marshfield 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
$680,300±$27kHighest
21% above MA
$596,200±$12kLowest
6% above MA
Marshfield and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,772±$123Lowest
about the MA average
$1,950±$99
11% above MA
Danvers and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654
11% above MA
$6,656Highest
11% above MA
$5,065Lowest
15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
68.1%±10.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
58.3%±5.9
MA: 51.8%
Marshfield and Peabody 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%
8.7%Highest
MA: 10%
7.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
80.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
65.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1968Highest
4 yrs newer than MA
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
about the MA average
35 minHighest
19% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
Work from home
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
24.8%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.3%±1.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Marshfield 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 #54 of 282 in MA #228 of 282 in MA
School district — Marshfield Peabody
High school in town — Marshfield High Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.0Highest
10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.