Compare towns
Danvers vs Ayer 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 highest household income ($125k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Ayer | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
8,645Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer 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±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Danvers and Ayer 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 |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$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 | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,065 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr 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 |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest 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 | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Ayer Shirley School District | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.5 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 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.