Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Ogunquit vs Topsfield
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 the most renters (30.8% rent).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
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 | Ogunquit | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
25,237 |
1,379Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Ogunquit 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±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield 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. |
— | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% 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. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | — | Topsfield |
| 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.