Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Hampton vs Needham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
25,237 |
16,426Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Needham 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±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Needham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Winnacunnet High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.4 |
10.1Lowest |
11.9 |
| 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.