Compare towns
Danvers vs Nelson vs Merrimac
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 most expensive homes ($644k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Merrimac has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Nelson | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
648Lowest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Merrimac 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danvers and Merrimac 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 55% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Danvers 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | — | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Nelson School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.