Compare towns
Danvers vs Reading vs Peabody vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Reading | Peabody | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
699Lowest |
54,695Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% 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% |
18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% 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. |
$596,200±$12k 79% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% 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. |
$1,950±$99 38% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Peabody 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 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 | — | #228 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Peabody | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
10.4 |
| 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.