Compare towns
Danvers vs Beverly vs Topsfield 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 the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
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 | Beverly | Topsfield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
42,665Highest |
6,564Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Danvers and Dedham 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% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield 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% |
19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Topsfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$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 | $6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Beverly 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% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield and Beverly 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Beverly | Topsfield | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Beverly High | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.2 |
— | 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.