Compare towns
Danvers vs Jaffrey vs Temple 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%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Jaffrey | Temple | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
5,448 |
1,363Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
42.9±3.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Temple and Danvers 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% |
23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey 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% |
18.5%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest 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±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$92,330±$18kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| 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 94% above U.S. |
$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| 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 47% above U.S. |
$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523 17% below 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 | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,196Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #87 of 120 in NH | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Conant Middle High School (H) | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
21.3Highest |
— | 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.