Compare towns
Danvers vs Exeter vs Hampton 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 highest household income ($125k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Exeter | Hampton | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
16,151Lowest |
16,426 |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest 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%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Peabody 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% 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% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Exeter High School | Winnacunnet High School | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1 |
10.1Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 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.