Compare towns
Danvers vs Exeter vs Dedham vs Stoughton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Stoughton has the most homeowners (74.1%).
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 | Exeter | Dedham | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
16,151Lowest |
25,237 |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Stoughton 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$104,794±$6kLowest 30% 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$523,800±$28k 57% 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. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,050±$200 45% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Stoughton 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,215Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoughton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dedham | Stoughton |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Dedham High | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.