Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).
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 | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
25,237 |
13,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Danvers and Dedham 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 |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$7,960Highest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.4 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.