Compare towns
Danvers vs Pelham vs Dedham vs Mansfield
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).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Pelham | Dedham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
14,449Lowest |
25,237 |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mansfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15kLowest 55% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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. |
$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28k 81% 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. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147 28% 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 | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Dedham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Pelham School District | Dedham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Pelham High School | Dedham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.