Compare towns
Danvers vs Dover vs Dedham vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Dover | Dedham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
2,308Lowest |
25,237 |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Dover 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% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Dedham 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
— | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% 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 | $6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Dedham | Hudson |
| High school 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 |
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.