Compare towns

Danvers vs Dover vs Kittery 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

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).

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.

MeasureDanversDoverKitteryDedham
People
Population
28,098
33,364Highest
10,473Lowest
25,237
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3
16% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
46.8±2.3Highest
20% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
Kittery and Danvers 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%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Dedham and Danvers 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%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
Kittery and Danvers 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%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover 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.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% 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.
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
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
47% above U.S.
$1,607±$100Lowest
14% above U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% 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.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% 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%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
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%
67.2%
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.
1965
15 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 min
14% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Kittery 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 #17 of 133 in ME #119 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Dover School District Kittery Public Schools Dedham
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Dover Senior High School Robert W Traip Academy Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
12.7
9.9Lowest
10.4
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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.