Compare towns
Danvers vs Peabody vs Plainfield vs Beverly
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 highest household income ($125k).
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
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 | Peabody | Plainfield | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
54,695Highest |
616Lowest |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Plainfield 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% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Peabody 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% |
24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Peabody 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% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
| Beverly and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
| Danvers and Peabody 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 |
$5,065 15% below MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,836Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Beverly 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | — | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Peabody | — | Beverly |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | — | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— | 12.2 |
| 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.