Compare towns

Danvers vs Ogunquit vs Merrimac vs Danvers

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Merrimac has the most affordable homes ($553k 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.

MeasureDanversOgunquitMerrimacDanvers
People
Population
28,098Highest
1,379Lowest
6,748
28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Lowest
16% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
49.4±6.8
27% above U.S.
45.3±3Lowest
16% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.5%±6.2
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.7%±5.8
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Ogunquit 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
55% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
$123,054±$16k
52% above U.S.
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23k
94% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$553,400±$38kLowest
66% above U.S.
$644,200±$23k
94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
—
$1,352±$325Lowest
4% below U.S.
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654
113% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$7,399Highest
137% above U.S.
$6,654
113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.3%±29.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6
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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #91 of 282 in MA — #188 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers — Pentucket —
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School — None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
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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.