Compare towns
Danvers vs Hampton Falls vs Stow 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 oldest population (median age 49.5).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Stow | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
2,328Lowest |
7,165 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Danvers 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% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Hampton Falls 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kLowest 55% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Stow and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Stow 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. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126Lowest 26% 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 | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow 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% |
5.2% 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% |
85.4% 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. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | — | #44 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hampton Falls School District | Nashoba | 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.