Compare towns
Danvers vs Auburn vs Danvers vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | Auburn | Danvers | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
16,970Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.8±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Auburn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Auburn 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 |
$116,711±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 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 |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% 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 |
$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Auburn 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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 | #106 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Auburn | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Auburn Senior High | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.