Compare towns

Dublin vs Danvers vs Merrimac

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dublin has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

MeasureDublinDanversMerrimac
People
Population
1,688Lowest
28,098Highest
6,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.3±8.4
27% above U.S.
45.3±3Lowest
16% above U.S.
49.4±6.8Highest
27% above U.S.
Merrimac and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2
U.S.: 22%
16.5%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dublin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25%±4.7
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Merrimac and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dublin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,659±$14kLowest
30% above U.S.
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$123,054±$16k
52% above U.S.
Danvers and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$430,500±$72kLowest
29% above U.S.
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% above U.S.
$553,400±$38k
66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,325±$165Lowest
6% below U.S.
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,352±$325
4% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,165Highest
162% above U.S.
$6,654Lowest
113% above U.S.
$7,399
137% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±8.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
59.3%±29.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Merrimac and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
Work from home
22%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dublin 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 #188 of 282 in MA
School district Contoocook Valley School District Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Pentucket
High school in town None in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8
—
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.