Compare towns
Danvers vs Rowley 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
Rowley has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Rowley | Salem | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
6,251Lowest |
44,795Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Dedham 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% |
21.6%±4.1 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 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 |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Rowley 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 15% above MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rowley and Dedham 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 |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%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 |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | #214 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 | Triton | 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.