Compare towns
Danvers vs Norfolk vs Danvers vs Beverly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Norfolk | Danvers | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
11,673Lowest |
28,098 |
42,665Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | King Philip · Millis | — | Beverly |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | — | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 12.2Lowest |
| 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.