Compare towns
Carver vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Wareham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carver has the most homeowners (88.7%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Carver | Danvers | Dedham | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,712Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
23,302 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 15% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
| Wareham and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$23k 12% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,200±$21k 23% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,827±$345 4% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% 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 | $6,455 8% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #237 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carver | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Wareham |
| High school in town | Carver Middle/High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
12.8Highest |
10.4 |
8.6Lowest |
| 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.