Compare towns
Danvers vs Ashburnham 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
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Danvers | Ashburnham | Dedham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
6,415Lowest |
25,237 |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$118,809±$11kLowest 14% 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 | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below 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 | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest 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 | $6,654 11% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ashburnham-Westminster | Dedham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dedham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.