Compare towns
Danvers vs Central Falls vs Middleton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | Central Falls | Middleton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
22,701 |
9,816Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% 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 | 17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Central Falls 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 55% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182 45% above 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 | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #71 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Middleton | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Central Falls Sr High | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
— | 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.