Compare towns
Berlin vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Berlin | Danvers | Dedham | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
| Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 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+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 19% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Middleton |
| 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 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.