Compare towns
Danvers vs Dorset vs Dedham 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%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k 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.
| Measure | Danvers | Dorset | Dedham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
2,092Lowest |
25,237 |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest 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. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 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. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22kLowest 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. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$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 | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 |
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.