Compare towns
Danvers vs Dedham vs Windham vs Stoughton
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Stoughton has the most affordable homes ($524k 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 | Windham | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
25,237 |
16,038Lowest |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Stoughton 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoughton and Dedham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$104,794±$6kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$523,800±$28kLowest 57% above U.S. |
| Windham 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 47% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,050±$200 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,215Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoughton and Dedham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Windham School District | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Windham High School | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.8 |
| 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.