Compare towns
Danvers vs Mendon vs Dedham vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Peabody has the most renters (34.4% rent).
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 | Mendon | Dedham | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
1,113Lowest |
25,237 |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4 16% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peabody and Dedham 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% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Peabody 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. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4kLowest 20% 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. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12k 79% 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. |
$1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,950±$99 38% 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. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — | Dedham | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — | Dedham High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.4 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.