Compare towns
Danvers vs Hanover 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
11,685Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kLowest 55% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% 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±$23kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| 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. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 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% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 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 |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Hanover High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.