Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Northampton
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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k 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 | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
25,237Lowest |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% 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%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest 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% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| 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 |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% 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 |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% 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 |
$5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton 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% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.4Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.