Compare towns

Plympton vs Danvers vs Halifax

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plympton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Halifax has the youngest population (median age 41.9).

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.

MeasurePlymptonDanversHalifax
People
Population
2,935Lowest
28,098Highest
7,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±4.2Highest
16% above MA
45.3±3
13% above MA
41.9±4.7Lowest
5% above MA
Plympton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.6%±5
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.2%±5.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Halifax and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.7%±5Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Plympton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.4%
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
36.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
5%±1.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Halifax and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$126,736±$20kHighest
22% above MA
$125,395±$10k
21% above MA
$118,556±$11kLowest
14% above MA
Plympton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$517,800±$52k
8% below MA
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$481,500±$51kLowest
14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$555±$148Lowest
69% below MA
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,804±$375
about the MA average
Danvers and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,628Lowest
11% above MA
$6,654
11% above MA
$6,840Highest
14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.8%±40.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
45.6%±37.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Plympton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.3%Highest
MA: 10%
4.8%
MA: 10%
2.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.1%
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
95.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
13% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
19.3%±6Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.9%±5.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #110 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #120 of 282 in MA
School district Plympton Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Halifax
High school in town None in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8
—
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.