Compare towns

Danvers vs Brockton vs Dedham

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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).

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.

MeasureDanversBrocktonDedham
People
Population
28,098
105,386Highest
25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+12.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
36.7±0.8Lowest
8% below MA
44.6±1.6
12% 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%
25.3%±1Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
14.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2
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%
22.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1
MA: 7.9%
Brockton and Dedham 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
$80,115±$3kLowest
23% below MA
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% 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
$437,500±$8kLowest
22% below MA
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% 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
$1,641±$52Lowest
7% below MA
$2,042±$182
16% above 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
$4,820Lowest
20% below MA
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
54.5%±4.2
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
Dedham and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
13.5%Highest
MA: 10%
5.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Highest
1 yr older than MA
1960
4 yrs older than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
32 minHighest
8% above MA
29 min
about the MA average
Work from home
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
6.9%±1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Highest
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 #279 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA
School district — Brockton Dedham
High school in town — Brockton High Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school —
17.0Highest
10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.