Compare towns
Danvers vs Hatfield vs Williamsburg 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Hatfield | Williamsburg | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
3,325 |
2,694Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Williamsburg 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 MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg 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 |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% 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 |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hatfield | Williamsburg | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Smith Academy | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
6.1Lowest |
— | 10.4 |
| 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.