Compare towns
Danvers vs Dover vs Beverly 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Dover has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Beverly has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
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 | Dover | Beverly | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
33,364 |
42,665Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39±1.8 about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| 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 94% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,771±$106 25% 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 | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,836 119% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beverly 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #144 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dover School District | Beverly | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dover Senior High School | Beverly High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.7 |
12.2 |
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.