Compare towns
Alstead vs Danvers vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Alstead | Danvers | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | 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 |
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.