Compare towns
Danvers vs Hampton Falls vs Salisbury 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 the most renters (30.8% rent).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Hampton Falls | Salisbury | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
2,328Lowest |
9,281 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Salisbury 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. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,691±$411Lowest 20% above 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hampton Falls School District | Triton | 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 History | 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.