Compare towns
Danvers vs Putnam vs Dedham vs Stoughton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Stoughton has the most homeowners (74.1%).
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 | Putnam | Dedham | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
9,292Lowest |
25,237 |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Stoughton 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoughton and Dedham 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 55% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$104,794±$6k 30% above U.S. |
| 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 94% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$523,800±$28k 57% above U.S. |
| 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±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,050±$200 45% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Stoughton 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,215 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoughton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #119 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Dedham | Stoughton |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Dedham High | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
10.4 |
10.8Highest |
| 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.