Compare towns
Brewer vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Old Town
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%).
Old Town has the most affordable homes ($208k 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 | Old Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,652 |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
7,470Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
37±1.5Lowest 5% below 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Old Town and Brewer 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% |
16.9%±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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Old Town and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,613±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$51,585±$10kLowest 36% 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. |
$208,100±$26kLowest 37% 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±$54 23% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$989±$100Lowest 30% 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. |
$3,153Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±15 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Old Town 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #56 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Brewer Public Schools | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | Brewer High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Old Town High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
12.8 |
10.4Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.