Compare towns

Ogunquit vs Danvers vs Ayer

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k 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.

MeasureOgunquitDanversAyer
People
Population
1,379Lowest
28,098Highest
8,645
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
45.3±3
16% above U.S.
39.2±2.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Ayer and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ayer and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$101,875±$15kLowest
26% above U.S.
Danvers and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$644,200±$23k
94% above U.S.
$463,800±$29kLowest
39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,415±$180Lowest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
$5,057
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±14.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Danvers and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
8% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #91 of 282 in MA #113 of 282 in MA
School district — Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town — Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 12 photos →

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.