Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Middleborough vs Hudson
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 highest household income ($129k).
Middleborough has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
Hudson has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
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 | Middleborough | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
25,237 |
24,505 |
20,077Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Danvers and Dedham 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% |
18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Middleborough 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%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
| 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 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$468,700±$18kLowest 17% below MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
| 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 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% 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 | $6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,023Lowest about the MA average |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough 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 MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
6.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
76.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Middleborough | Hudson |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Middleborough High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.4 |
11.3 |
10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.