Compare towns
Boston vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
Danvers has the most affordable homes ($644k median).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k 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 | Boston | Danvers | Dedham | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
28,098 |
25,237Lowest |
63,266 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Brookline and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.3 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+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$142,101±$8kHighest 37% above MA |
| Brookline and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25 22% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
8.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
46.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #258 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #22 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
12.8 |
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.