Compare towns
Danvers vs Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Reading | Dedham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
699Lowest |
25,237 |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Reading and Danvers 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mansfield 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% 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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$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 | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 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% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%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. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Dedham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Dedham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 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.