Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Westminster vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Peabody has the most renters (34.4% rent).
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 | Westminster | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
25,237 |
8,374Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
| Westminster and Danvers 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% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Peabody 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% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Peabody 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±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% 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 |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% below MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above 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 |
$1,843±$268Lowest 5% above MA |
$1,950±$99 11% above 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 |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$5,065 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Peabody 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% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 min 7% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Ashburnham-Westminster | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Oakmont Regional High School | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.4 |
13.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.