Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Boston vs Danvers
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).
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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.
| Measure | Danvers | Dedham | Boston | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
25,237Lowest |
666,442Highest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 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% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% 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±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
| Boston and Danvers 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Boston 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Boston 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 | #258 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | — | — | Boston Latin School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 18.7Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.