Compare towns
Reading vs Danvers vs Andover vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k 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.
| Measure | Reading | Danvers | Andover | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
28,098Highest |
616Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7 29% above U.S. |
| Reading and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peacham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peacham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$302,000±$64kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,605 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Peacham 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 | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | — | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.