Compare towns

Danvers vs Springfield vs Peabody

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k 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.

MeasureDanversSpringfieldPeabody
People
Population
28,098
1,122Lowest
54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Lowest
16% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
45.3±2.4Lowest
16% above U.S.
Springfield 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
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Peabody and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Peabody 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
55% above U.S.
$100,893±$19k
25% above U.S.
$96,657±$4kLowest
20% above U.S.
Danvers and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% above U.S.
$384,100±$50kLowest
15% above U.S.
$596,200±$12k
79% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,950±$99
38% above U.S.
Danvers and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
$5,946
91% above U.S.
$5,065Lowest
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.3%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
65.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Danvers and Springfield 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
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 Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.