Compare towns
Danvers vs Needham vs Dover 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Peabody has the most affordable homes ($596k 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 | Needham | Dover | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
32,459 |
2,308Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
| Dover and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Dover 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— | $1,950±$99Lowest 11% above MA |
| Needham and Danvers 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Needham | — | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Needham High | — | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.9 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.