Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Hampton vs Stoughton
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 the most renters (30.8% rent).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Hampton | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
25,237 |
10,101Lowest |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 55% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$104,794±$6k 30% 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. |
$545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$523,800±$28kLowest 57% 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. |
$1,654±$93Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$2,050±$200 45% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Stoughton 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. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$6,215Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | — | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | 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 |
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.