Compare towns
Brewer vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Brewer | Danvers | Dedham | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,652 |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
6,088Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42±3.6 8% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$71,782±$10k 11% below 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 | $245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,113±$191 21% below 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 | $3,374 8% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
12.8 |
10.4Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.