Compare towns
Danvers vs Coventry vs Dedham vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Peabody has the most renters (34.4% rent).
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 | Coventry | Dedham | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
35,907 |
25,237Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
44±1.1Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peabody 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Coventry 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 55% above U.S. |
$102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| 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 94% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12k 79% 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±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,206±$155Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,950±$99 38% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #24 of 38 in RI | #119 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Coventry | Dedham | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Coventry High School | Dedham High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
10.4 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.