Compare towns
Danvers vs Dublin vs Marlborough 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dublin has the most homeowners (83.2%).
Marlborough has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Dublin | Marlborough | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
1,688Lowest |
2,207 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
46±9.2 18% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Marlborough 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% |
21.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Marlborough and Dublin 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% |
25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin and Marlborough 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% |
45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Dublin 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. |
$104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
$69,032±$9kLowest 14% below 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. |
$430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
$267,200±$35kLowest 20% below 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. |
$1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
$1,133±$323Lowest 20% below 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. |
$8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$6,362Lowest 104% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Marlborough 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dublin 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 |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Contoocook Valley School District | Marlborough School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.