Compare towns
Danvers vs Needham vs Newton 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 affordable homes ($644k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).
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 | Needham | Newton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
32,459 |
89,044Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Newton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Needham and Newton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Newton 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Needham | Newton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Needham High | Newton North High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.9 |
10.8 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.