Compare towns
Dalton vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Dalton | Danvers | Dedham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dalton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above 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 | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #192 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.