Compare towns
Danvers vs Middleton vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Salisbury | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
9,816 |
5,656Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Salisbury 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 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.6% 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% |
5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Salisbury 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 |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,770±$444 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 |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below 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% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury 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% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5%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 |
1981 17 yrs newer 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 about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Middleton | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 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.