Compare towns
Peabody vs Dover vs Danvers vs Middleton
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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Danvers has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Dover | Danvers | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
5,930Lowest |
28,098 |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Dover and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3 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%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
92.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #228 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Middleton |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
9.8Lowest |
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.