Compare towns
Danvers vs Bolton vs Berlin 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 most renters (30.8% rent).
Bolton has the highest household income ($205k).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Bolton | Berlin | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
5,737 |
3,378Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Berlin and Danvers 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% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Berlin 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 |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182 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 | $6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Berlin 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Nashoba Regional | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.0 |
— | 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.