Compare towns
Danvers vs Windham vs Middleton 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
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 | Windham | Middleton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
16,038 |
9,816Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% 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%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29k 107% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Windham and Middleton 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. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #71 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Middleton | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.