Compare towns
Danvers vs Northbridge vs Whitman 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | Northbridge | Whitman | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
16,458 |
15,295Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Whitman 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 21% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above 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 |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% 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 |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% 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 |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Dedham 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Northbridge | Whitman-Hanson | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Northbridge High | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.8 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.