Compare towns
Acushnet vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Leicester
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 oldest population (median age 46).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Leicester has the most affordable homes ($413k 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 | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,624Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
11,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.8Highest 15% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.4±3.5Lowest 6% above MA |
| Acushnet and Danvers 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%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Acushnet and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Acushnet and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Leicester and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,503±$9kLowest 14% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$105,173±$9k about the MA average |
| 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 |
$413,100±$23kLowest 27% 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±$354Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,487±$258 16% 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 |
$4,452Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±14.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.5%Highest 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 |
1965 1 yr newer 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 |
27 minLowest 6% 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% |
13.1%±4.1 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 | #222 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acushnet | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Leicester |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Leicester High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.