Compare towns
Danvers vs Newfields vs Wolfeboro 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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Newfields | Wolfeboro | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
2,023Lowest |
6,571 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Dedham 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Newfields 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. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Newfields School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.