Compare towns
Danvers vs Peru vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
630Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% 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% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Peru and Danvers 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% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield 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 |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Danvers and Mansfield 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 |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Danvers and Mansfield 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 |
— | $1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Mansfield 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 |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Danvers and Mansfield 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Mansfield 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 | — | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.


