Compare towns
Danvers vs New Castle vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
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 | New Castle | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
827Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
62.8±6Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kLowest 55% above U.S. |
$176,953±$29kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 411% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$8,509Highest 173% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±85.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.1%±19.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Castle 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 |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | New Castle School District | 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 |
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.