Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Gorham vs Hudson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Dedham | Gorham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
25,237 |
2,682Lowest |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hudson 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% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham 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 55% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$103,400±$13k 28% 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. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$496,800±$22k 49% 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. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Hudson 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #57 of 120 in NH | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Hudson |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Gorham High School | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.4 |
9.0Lowest |
10.2 |
| 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.