Compare towns
Beverly vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Epping
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Beverly | Danvers | Dedham | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
28,098 |
25,237 |
7,430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% 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 | $650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 119% above U.S. |
$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Beverly 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Beverly | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Epping School District |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.8Highest |
10.4 |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.