Compare towns
Danvers vs White River Junction vs Dedham vs Middleton
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | White River Junction | Dedham | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
3,364Lowest |
25,237 |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 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±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Dedham | Middleton |
| High school in town | — | — | Dedham High | None in town |
| 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.