Compare towns
Danvers vs Middlefield 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k median).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Middlefield | Dedham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
352Lowest |
25,237 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield 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% MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$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 |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 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±$192 18% above MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Middlefield and Danvers 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 |
$4,926Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield 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 MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1971Highest 7 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 about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Dedham | Salem |
| High school in town | — | — | Dedham High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Highest |
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.