Compare towns
Danvers vs Northampton vs Dedham vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
Peabody has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Northampton | Dedham | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
30,962 |
25,237Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Peabody 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody 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% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
| 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 18% above MA |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,950±$99 11% 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 |
$5,680 5% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Dedham | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Northampton High | Dedham High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
14.7Highest |
10.4 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.