Compare towns
Danvers vs Conway vs Dedham vs Hudson
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%).
Conway has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Conway | Dedham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
1,755Lowest |
25,237 |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
55.6±3Highest 39% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
31.9%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 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 |
$97,250±$11kLowest 6% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
| 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 |
$395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below 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 |
$1,800±$990 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 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 |
$5,797Lowest 3% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Dedham 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Conway | Dedham | Hudson |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dedham High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Highest |
10.2Lowest |
| 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.