Compare towns
Andover vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the oldest population (median age 46).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Andover | Danvers | Dedham | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,135Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±11.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
| Andover and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 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 | $88,514±$27kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14k 33% 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 | $366,500±$44k 10% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 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 | Andover School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.