Compare towns
Danvers vs Biddeford vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Biddeford has the most affordable homes ($397k median).
Peabody has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Biddeford | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
22,498Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peabody 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,950±$99 38% above U.S. |
| 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 113% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,065 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Biddeford 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 | #111 of 133 in ME | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Biddeford Public Schools | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Biddeford High School | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
14.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.