Compare towns
Danvers vs Reading vs Walpole vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Reading | Walpole | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
25,612Lowest |
26,388 |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Walpole and Reading 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,950±$99Lowest 11% above MA |
| Walpole and Danvers 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Walpole 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Peabody |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.