Compare towns
Danvers vs Durham vs Newfields 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Peabody has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Newfields | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
15,080 |
2,023Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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 47% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323 33% above 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 | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% 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% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Peabody 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.