Compare towns
Peabody vs Ayer vs Danvers
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Peabody | Ayer | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
8,645Lowest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 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+ | 35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
| Danvers and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Danvers and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,065 15% below MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Danvers 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Ayer Shirley School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.5 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.