Compare towns
Danvers vs Peru vs Danvers vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Peru | Danvers | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
630Lowest |
28,098 |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
45.3±2.4Lowest 13% above MA |
| Peru and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Peabody and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Peru 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Peabody 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 21% above MA |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
— | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,950±$99Lowest 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$5,065 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — | — | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — | — | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.