Compare towns
Danvers vs Peabody vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Beverly has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Westminster | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
54,695Highest |
8,374Lowest |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Westminster 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% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
| Danvers and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% 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 |
$1,843±$268 5% above MA |
$1,771±$106Lowest 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 |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$6,836Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster 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% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%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 |
1977Highest 13 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 |
27 min 7% below MA |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Danvers 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Peabody | Ashburnham-Westminster | Beverly |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Oakmont Regional High School | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
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.