Compare towns
Boxford vs Danvers vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxford has the highest household income ($201k).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Boxford | Danvers | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Boxford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 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+ | 70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Boxford 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 | #34 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.