Compare towns
Coventry vs Dedham vs Danvers vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Coventry | Dedham | Danvers | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,907Highest |
25,237 |
28,098 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above 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 | $356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% 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 | $1,206±$155Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above 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 | $5,099 63% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 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 | #24 of 38 in RI | #119 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Coventry | Dedham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | Dedham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.