Compare towns

Plainfield vs Danvers vs Leyden

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Leyden has the oldest population (median age 53.2).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldDanversLeyden
People
Population
616Lowest
28,098Highest
637
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±9.5
27% above MA
45.3±3Lowest
13% above MA
53.2±8.2Highest
33% above MA
Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±9.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2
MA: 19.4%
13.8%±3.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Plainfield and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.5%±7.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
28.6%±2.7
MA: 17.9%
Plainfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.4%
MA: 47.3%
40%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
0.5%±2.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Plainfield and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$63,500±$14kLowest
39% below MA
$125,395±$10kHighest
21% above MA
$105,893±$13k
about the MA average
Danvers and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$309,000±$47kLowest
45% below MA
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$372,900±$24k
34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$558Lowest
27% below MA
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,917±$451
9% above MA
Danvers and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,458Lowest
26% below MA
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$4,651
22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
42.9%±100
MA: 51.8%
Danvers and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.9%Highest
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
10.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98%Highest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
93.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
30% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
33 min
12% above MA
Work from home
26.2%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
11%±5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Plainfield 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 — #91 of 282 in MA —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.