Compare towns
Danvers vs Framingham vs Dedham vs Salem
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Framingham | Dedham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
72,399Highest |
25,237Lowest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Dedham 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% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 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% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Framingham 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 |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% 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 |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% 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 |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above 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 |
$6,884 15% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Salem 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% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
54.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Dedham | Salem |
| High school in town | — | Framingham High School | Dedham High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.