Compare towns
Conway vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Ashfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
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 | Conway | Danvers | Dedham | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,755Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3 39% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
| Ashfield and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 31.9%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,250±$11k 6% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% 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 | $395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% 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 | $1,800±$990 about the MA average |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% 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 | $5,797 3% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Ashfield 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Conway | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.