Compare towns

Danvers vs Dedham vs Westhampton

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%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Westhampton has the most affordable homes ($413k median).

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.

MeasureDanversDedhamWesthampton
People
Population
28,098Highest
25,237
1,552Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3
13% above MA
44.6±1.6Lowest
12% above MA
49.3±4.9Highest
23% above MA
Westhampton and Danvers 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%
18.6%±1.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
18%±4.1
MA: 19.4%
Dedham and Westhampton 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%
21.9%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
25.4%±2.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
Westhampton 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%
55%Highest
MA: 47.3%
47%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±2.4Lowest
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
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% above MA
$100,000±$7kLowest
4% below 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
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% above MA
$413,200±$24kLowest
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
$2,042±$182
16% above MA
$1,304±$229Lowest
26% 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
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$6,476Lowest
8% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±53.5Lowest
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%
5.6%
MA: 10%
6.5%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
91.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1969Highest
5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
29 minHighest
about the MA average
29 min
about the MA average
Work from home
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.1%±4Lowest
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 #119 of 282 in MA —
School district — Dedham Hampshire · Westhampton
High school in town — Dedham High Hampshire Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Highest
10.0Lowest
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.