Compare towns
Merrimac vs Danvers vs Plainville
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 most homeowners (81.3%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748Lowest |
28,098Highest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Merrimac and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainville and Danvers 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac and Danvers 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% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainville and Danvers 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 |
$104,106±$13kLowest 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 |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,977±$197 12% above MA |
| Danvers and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,399Highest 23% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Plainville 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Plainville |
| 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 |
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.