Compare towns
Danvers vs Dracut vs Peabody vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | Dracut | Peabody | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
32,574 |
54,695Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dracut 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% |
18.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody 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% MA: 47.3% |
36.4% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Dracut 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 |
$114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above 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 |
$473,900±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% 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 |
$1,839±$130Lowest 4% above MA |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% 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 |
$5,375 10% below MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dracut | Peabody | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dracut Senior High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.9Highest |
10.3Lowest |
10.4 |
| 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.