Compare towns
Danvers vs Ogunquit vs Wenham 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wenham has the highest household income ($195k).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Ogunquit | Wenham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
1,379Lowest |
4,929 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
29.3±9.3Lowest 25% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Wenham 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
27.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$194,781±$33kHighest 141% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$885,400±$48kHighest 166% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Wenham and Ogunquit 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. |
— | — | $2,042±$182Lowest 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 | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±20.8 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Wenham 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 | — | #74 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Hamilton-Wenham | Dedham |
| High school 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 | None yet | 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.