Compare towns
Danvers vs Lee vs Deerfield 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%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Deerfield has the most homeowners (78.4%).
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 | Lee | Deerfield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
5,719 |
5,158Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Lee and Deerfield 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$106,136±$14k 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 |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 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 |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% 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 |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
18 min 38% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Lee | Deerfield · Frontier | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Lee Middle/High School | Frontier Regional | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.2Lowest |
11.1 |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.