Compare towns
Danvers vs Middleton vs Smithfield vs Beverly
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k median).
Beverly has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Middleton | Smithfield | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
9,816Lowest |
22,233 |
42,665Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and Middleton 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% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Beverly and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$6,836 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Beverly 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beverly 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Middleton | Smithfield | Beverly |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Smithfield High School | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.