Compare towns
Danvers vs Ayer vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($445k median).
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 | Ayer | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
3,098Lowest |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer 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±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — | — |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.