Compare towns
Amesbury vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Amesbury | Danvers | Dedham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above 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 | $519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 23% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #151 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.