Compare towns
Danvers vs Windham vs Salem 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
16,038Lowest |
44,795Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
17.2%±1.7 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% |
47.8%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% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Windham and Dedham 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. |
$1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest 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. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Salem | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Salem High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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.