Compare towns
Hanson vs Danvers vs Beverly vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Hanson | Danvers | Beverly | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
28,098 |
42,665Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Danvers and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Douglas and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Beverly and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
| Danvers and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 7% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Douglas 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Beverly | Douglas |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Beverly High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.8 |
12.2 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.