What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Pembroke has the most homeowners (90.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Danvers	Pembroke
People
Population	28,098Highest	18,382Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA	45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA
	Pembroke 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%	19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pembroke and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	19.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Danvers and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	44.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Pembroke 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±$10kLowest 21% above MA	$146,285±$17kHighest 41% above MA
	Pembroke and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA	$586,500±$28kLowest 4% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$192Lowest 18% above MA	$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA
	Pembroke and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,654Highest 11% above MA	$6,585Lowest 10% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%	42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Danvers and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest MA: 10%	4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest about the MA average	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Pembroke 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	#82 of 282 in MA
School district	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers	Pembroke
High school in town	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School	Pembroke High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.