Compare towns
Danvers vs Northampton vs Dedham vs Middleton
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).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Northampton | Dedham | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
30,962Highest |
25,237 |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±2 8% 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%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 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%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below 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 |
$5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Dedham | Middleton |
| High school in town | — | Northampton High | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.