Compare towns
Danvers vs Gloucester vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Gloucester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).
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 | Gloucester | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
30,075Highest |
13,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
50.2±2.3Highest 26% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
| Gloucester and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ipswich 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±$10k 21% above MA |
$83,883±$6kLowest 19% below MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$600,600±$18kLowest 7% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,411±$94Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$6,152Lowest about the MA average |
$7,960Highest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.1%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Gloucester and Ipswich 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% |
9.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
63.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Ipswich 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 | #164 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Gloucester | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Gloucester High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.0 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.