Compare towns
Danvers vs Hanover vs Dedham vs Hudson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Dedham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
8,479Lowest |
25,237 |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
| 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%±2 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hudson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22kLowest 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hanover and Danvers 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. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #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 |
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.