Compare towns
Danvers vs Berlin vs Dedham vs Stoughton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Stoughton has the most affordable homes ($524k 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 | Berlin | Dedham | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
3,378Lowest |
25,237 |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.7±1.9 14% above MA |
| Berlin and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Stoughton 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin 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% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoughton and Dedham 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 |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below 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±$192 18% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,050±$200 16% above MA |
| Berlin and Danvers 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 |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,215Lowest 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Dedham 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% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Berlin-Boylston | Dedham | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Dedham High | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.