Compare towns
Danvers vs Dudley vs Webster vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Dudley | Webster | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
11,929Lowest |
17,748 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| 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%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% 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 |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below 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 |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below 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 |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Webster | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Bartlett High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
14.3Highest |
11.6 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.