Compare towns
Croydon vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Croydon has the most homeowners (86.6%).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k 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 | Croydon | Danvers | Dedham | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 798Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±9.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
44.5±12.9 14% 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 | 19%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±11.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Croydon and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,333±$21k 22% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$81,429±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $317,300±$33k 5% below U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$191,400±$68kLowest 42% 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 | $991±$336 30% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$900±$825Lowest 36% 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 | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,561Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±75.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.7 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Croydon School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.