Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Nelson vs Sullivan
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Nelson | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
25,237 |
648Lowest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 55% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20k 32% 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. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below 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. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.