Compare towns
Danvers vs Lawrence 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
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 | Lawrence | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098 |
88,736Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| 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%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Lawrence 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 |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$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 |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% 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 |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% 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 |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence 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 MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Lawrence | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Lawrence High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.