Compare towns
Merrimac vs Danvers vs West Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimac has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
West Boylston has the most affordable homes ($440k median).
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 | Merrimac | Danvers | West Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748Lowest |
28,098Highest |
7,782 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
45.5±2.7 14% above MA |
| Merrimac and West Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Danvers and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.8%±3.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac and West Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Danvers and West Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$104,551±$12kLowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $553,400±$38k about the MA average |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$440,000±$24kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325 23% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,261±$154Lowest 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,399Highest 23% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,115Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
29.9%±12.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and West Boylston 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #97 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | — | West Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | — | West Boylston Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.