Compare towns
Danvers vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Danvers | Dedham | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield 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% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Deerfield and Danvers 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% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield 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 |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$106,136±$14kLowest 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 |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% 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 |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.