Compare towns
Danvers vs Middleton vs North Hampton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
North Hampton has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Middleton | North Hampton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
9,816 |
4,543Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| North Hampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Dedham 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% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton 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% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kLowest 55% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Middleton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Middleton and North Hampton 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. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| 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 113% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #12 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Middleton | North Hampton School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.