Compare towns
Wenham vs Needham vs Danvers vs Beverly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Needham | Danvers | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,929Lowest |
32,459 |
28,098 |
42,665Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39±1.8 about the MA average |
| Danvers and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $194,781±$33k 87% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
| Needham and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $885,400±$48k 58% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Wenham 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Needham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Beverly |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.