Compare towns
Needham vs Peabody vs Danvers vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peabody has the most affordable homes ($596k median).
Danvers has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Needham | Peabody | Danvers | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
54,695Highest |
28,098Lowest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,950±$99Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Peabody | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
10.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.