Compare towns
Danvers vs Kingston vs Wolfeboro 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%).
Kingston has the most affordable homes ($493k median).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Kingston | Wolfeboro | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
6,275Lowest |
6,571 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7 43% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston 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% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 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%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston 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% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 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. |
$492,900±$58kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% 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. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% 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. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Sanborn Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Sanborn Regional High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.9Highest |
11.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.