Compare towns
Danvers vs Goshen 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Goshen has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Goshen | Dedham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
915Lowest |
25,237 |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
58±5.8Highest 45% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Dedham 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% |
31.4%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
47.5% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Goshen 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 |
$98,906±$10kLowest 5% 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 |
$351,900±$25kLowest 37% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$496,800±$22k 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 |
$869±$727Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below 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 |
$5,022Lowest 16% 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% |
60%±66.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Goshen and Dedham 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.1%±7.2Lowest 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — | Dedham | Hudson |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — | Dedham High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.4 |
10.2Lowest |
| 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.