Compare towns
Danvers vs Middleton vs Beverly 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
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 | Middleton | Beverly | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
9,816Lowest |
42,665Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Beverly 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% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 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% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,771±$106 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 | $6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Middleton | Beverly | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Beverly High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.2 |
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.