Compare towns
Acushnet vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Acushnet Center
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acushnet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Acushnet Center has the most affordable homes ($379k 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 | Acushnet | Danvers | Dedham | Acushnet Center |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,624 |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
2,810Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.8 15% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
47.5±6.5Highest 19% above MA |
| Acushnet Center and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acushnet and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29%±7.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Acushnet Center and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,503±$9k 14% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$71,864±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,400±$34k 22% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$378,900±$37kLowest 33% below MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,170±$354 34% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,083±$314Lowest 39% below MA |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,647 22% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,231Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
64.4%±12 MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Acushnet Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
10.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
25 minLowest 16% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #118 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Acushnet | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.