Compare towns
Danvers vs Acushnet vs Mansfield vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Acushnet has the most affordable homes ($436k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Acushnet | Mansfield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
10,624Lowest |
23,931 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
46±2.8Highest 15% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Acushnet 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Acushnet and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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 21% above MA |
$89,503±$9kLowest 14% below MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| 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 15% above MA |
$436,400±$34kLowest 22% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| 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 18% above MA |
$1,170±$354Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| 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 11% above MA |
$4,647Lowest 22% below MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #118 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Acushnet | Mansfield | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Mansfield High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.