Compare towns

Reading vs Danvers 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

MeasureReadingDanversPeacham
People
Population
699Lowest
28,098Highest
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.
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%±2Lowest
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%
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3
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.
$90,000±$28k
11% above U.S.
Danvers and Peacham 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.
$302,000±$64kLowest
9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$331
22% below U.S.
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,028±$248Lowest
27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,754
84% above U.S.
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
$5,605Lowest
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%
66.7%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Peacham and Reading 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%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%
76.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above 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%
24.2%±16.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Peacham and Reading 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

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.