What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).

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

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	Derry	Danvers
People
Population	34,116Highest	28,098Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S.	45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Derry and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S.	$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S.
	Danvers and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S.	$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S.	$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.	$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derry and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Danvers and Derry 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	#60 of 120 in NH	#91 of 282 in MA
School district	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town	Pinkerton Academy	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Highest	12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.