Compare towns
Boylston vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
Rowley has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
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 | Boylston | Danvers | Dedham | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Boylston 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
| Boylston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rowley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% 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 | $7,266 21% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Triton |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| 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.