Compare towns
Danvers vs Ashby vs Dedham vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Ashby | Dedham | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
3,211Lowest |
25,237 |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
| Ashby and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 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+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 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 | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,407±$284 20% 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 | $6,654 11% above MA |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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 | 4.8% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
92.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Dedham | Middleton |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.