Compare towns
Danvers vs Gloucester vs Middleton vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Gloucester has the oldest population (median age 50.2).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Gloucester | Middleton | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
30,075 |
9,816Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
50.2±2.3Highest 26% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
| Gloucester 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 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Peabody and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Gloucester and Peabody 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 MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Peabody 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 |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$600,600±$18k 7% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,411±$94 20% below MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
| 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 11% above MA |
$6,152 about the MA average |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
9.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
63.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #164 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Gloucester | Middleton | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Gloucester High | None in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.