Compare towns
Danvers vs Windham vs Middleton 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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 | Windham | Middleton | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
16,038 |
9,816Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 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±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29k 107% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Windham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12kLowest 79% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,950±$99 38% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #71 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Windham School District | Middleton | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Windham High School | None in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.