Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Walpole vs Mansfield
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k 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 | Walpole | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
25,237 |
26,388 |
23,931Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±1.3 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%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Mansfield 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% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest 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% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
| Walpole and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Walpole and Danvers 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 |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Walpole High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.3 |
11.1 |
| 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.