Compare towns
Danvers vs Oakham vs Salem 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 the shortest commute (28 min average).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Oakham | Salem | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
1,639Lowest |
44,795Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Oakham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below 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 |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% 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 |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$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 |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Quabbin | Salem | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Salem High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
10.4 |
| 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.