Compare towns
Danvers vs Woonsocket 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).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
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 | Woonsocket | Salem | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
43,521 |
44,795Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
39.3±1.5 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% |
23.3%±2Highest 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% 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. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older 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. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #248 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Salem | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Woonsocket High School | Salem High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
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.