Compare towns
Danvers vs Newton vs Salisbury 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 the most renters (30.8% rent).
Newton has the most homeowners (90.1%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Newton | Salisbury | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
4,836Lowest |
9,281 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 55% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Newton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Danvers 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. |
$1,683±$96Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$1,691±$411 20% above 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. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #240 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Sanborn Regional School District | Triton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | 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 |
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.