Compare towns
Beverly vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
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 | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
28,098 |
25,237 |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% 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 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 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 | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% 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 | $6,836 14% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.