Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Millis vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Millis | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
25,237 |
8,888 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Millis 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 |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Millis and Upton 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 |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Millis | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Millis High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
11.2 |
| 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.