Compare towns
Danvers vs Peterborough vs Dedham vs Peabody
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peterborough has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Peterborough | Dedham | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
6,408Lowest |
25,237 |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peterborough and Peabody 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% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Peabody 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. |
$98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| 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 94% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12k 79% 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. |
$1,395±$209Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,950±$99 38% 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. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Contoocook Valley School District | Dedham | Peabody |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Conval Regional High School | Dedham High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.0 |
10.4 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.