Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Salem vs Uxbridge
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Uxbridge has the most affordable homes ($441k 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 | Salem | Uxbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
25,237 |
44,795Highest |
14,473Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
41.7±2.8 4% 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%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Uxbridge and Dedham 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% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5Lowest 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% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$124,725±$7k 20% above 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 |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$441,100±$25kLowest 22% 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 |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,555±$265Lowest 12% 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 |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$5,836Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Salem 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% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Salem | Uxbridge |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Salem High | Uxbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.