Compare towns
Danvers vs Deerfield vs Hampton Falls vs Dedham
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).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Deerfield | Hampton Falls | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
5,158 |
2,328Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Deerfield 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% |
44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield 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. |
$106,136±$14kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,334±$318Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above 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. |
$5,824Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Deerfield · Frontier | Hampton Falls School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Frontier Regional | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1 |
— | 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.