Compare towns
Danvers vs Brewster vs Danvers vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewster has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Brewster | Danvers | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
10,420Lowest |
28,098 |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
45.3±2.4Lowest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Peabody and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Peabody 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 |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
| Brewster 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 |
$1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$5,065 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Peabody 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% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the MA average |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Brewster 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Brewster | — | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | — | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 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.