Compare towns
Danvers vs Durham vs Middleton vs Beverly
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Beverly has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Middleton | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
15,080 |
9,816Lowest |
42,665Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
39±1.8 about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Beverly 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
$6,836 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beverly and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #71 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Oyster River Coop School District | Middleton | Beverly |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.



