Compare towns

Danvers vs Everett vs Dedham vs Hudson

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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).

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.

MeasureDanversEverettDedhamHudson
People
Population
28,098
50,045Highest
25,237
20,077Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.4%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
44.6±1.6
12% above MA
42.9±1.7
7% 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%
21.8%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
19.3%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
Everett and Hudson 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%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2
MA: 17.9%
20.1%±2.3
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%
24.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55%Highest
MA: 47.3%
46.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1
MA: 7.9%
4%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Everett 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
21% above MA
$85,218±$7kLowest
18% below MA
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% above MA
$103,400±$13k
about the MA average
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
$610,000±$23k
9% above MA
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% above MA
$496,800±$22kLowest
12% below 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
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
$2,042±$182
16% above MA
$1,406±$82Lowest
20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654
11% above MA
$4,880Lowest
19% below MA
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$6,892
15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
40.8%±8.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.7%Highest
MA: 10%
5.6%
MA: 10%
5.3%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1956
8 yrs older than MA
1970Highest
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
35 minHighest
20% above MA
29 min
about the MA average
31 min
6% above MA
Work from home
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.6%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
Dedham and Hudson 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 #264 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA #224 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Everett Dedham Hudson
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Everett High Dedham High Hudson High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
12.1
10.4
10.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.