Compare towns

Danvers vs Gloucester 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).
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.

MeasureDanversGloucesterPeabody
People
Population
28,098Lowest
30,075
54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+3.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Lowest
13% above MA
50.2±2.3Highest
26% above MA
45.3±2.4Lowest
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%
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%±2.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
27.9%±2.3Highest
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%
35%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
3.2%±0.7Lowest
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±$10kHighest
21% above MA
$83,883±$6kLowest
19% below MA
$96,657±$4k
7% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$600,600±$18k
7% above MA
$596,200±$12kLowest
6% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,411±$94Lowest
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
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$6,152
about the MA average
$5,065Lowest
15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
55.1%±7.1
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%Lowest
MA: 10%
9.6%Highest
MA: 10%
7.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
63.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
65.6%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1946Lowest
18 yrs older than MA
1966Highest
2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
about the MA average
24 minLowest
18% below MA
26 min
11% below MA
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.7%±2.3
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 #228 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Gloucester Peabody
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Gloucester High 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

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.