Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Woolwich vs Hudson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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 | Dedham | Woolwich | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
25,237 |
3,158Lowest |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
15%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 55% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$102,175±$26kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
| 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 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$254,500±$59kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
| 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 47% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
— | $1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woolwich and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Hudson 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 | #92 of 133 in ME | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Hudson |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | None in town | 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 |
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.