Compare towns
Danvers vs Melrose vs Dedham vs Mansfield
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Melrose | Dedham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
29,650Highest |
25,237 |
23,931Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| 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%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Melrose 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% |
20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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 |
$133,953±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
| Melrose and Dedham 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 |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA 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 11% above MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Melrose | Dedham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | — | Melrose High | Dedham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.