Compare towns
Danvers vs Beverly vs Plainfield 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).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
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 | Beverly | Plainfield | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
42,665 |
616Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
| Plainfield 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% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Peabody 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% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
| Beverly 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 |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% 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 | $6,654 11% above MA |
$6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,065 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Beverly 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% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Beverly 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | — | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Beverly | — | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Beverly High | — | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.2 |
— | 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.