Compare towns
Danvers vs Epping vs Merrimac
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 expensive homes ($644k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Merrimac has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Epping | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
7,430 |
6,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Danvers 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% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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 55% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Merrimac 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Epping School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.