Compare towns
Ashfield vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
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 | Ashfield | Danvers | Dedham | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,893 |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
56.3±2.7 41% above MA |
| Ashfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% 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 | $400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$392,400±$20kLowest 30% 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 | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,679±$441 5% 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 | $5,197 13% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Dedham 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 | Mohawk Trail | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Petersham |
| 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 |
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.