Compare towns
Danvers vs Bedford 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 most renters (30.8% rent).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Bedford | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
23,746Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kLowest 55% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kLowest 84% 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±$192 47% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Dedham 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #7 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Bedford School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Bedford High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.