Compare towns
Amesbury vs Dedham vs Needham vs Danvers
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).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Dedham | Needham | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest 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% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Needham 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 |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
| Needham and Danvers 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 |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #151 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | — | Needham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | — | Needham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 11.9 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.