Compare towns
Danvers vs Lunenburg vs Raynham 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 most renters (30.8% rent).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Raynham has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Lunenburg | Raynham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
11,902Lowest |
15,505 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
42.9±1.5Lowest 7% above 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% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3 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% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
39.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Lunenburg 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 |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
$124,012±$16k 19% above 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 |
$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA |
$524,400±$29k 7% 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 |
$1,974±$586 12% above MA |
$1,749±$74Lowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$6,401Lowest 7% above MA |
$6,752 13% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham 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% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
36 min 24% above MA |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #190 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Lunenburg | Bridgewater-Raynham | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Lunenburg High | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.4 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.