Compare towns
Danvers vs Amesbury vs Lee vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 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 | Amesbury | Lee | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
17,403 |
5,719Lowest |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Amesbury 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% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$103,554±$12k about the MA average |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,683±$115 4% below MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Lee 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Amesbury | Lee | — |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Amesbury High | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.9 |
9.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.