Compare towns
Danvers vs Hardwick vs Middleton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | Hardwick | Middleton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
2,684Lowest |
9,816 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Quabbin | Middleton | 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 |
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.