Compare towns
Danvers vs Ashfield vs Dedham vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Ashfield | Dedham | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
1,893Lowest |
25,237 |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Peabody and Dedham 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% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Peabody 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 |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$96,657±$4k 7% below 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 |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% 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 |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,950±$99 11% 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 |
$5,197 13% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Mohawk Trail | Dedham | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Dedham High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.4 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.