Compare towns
Danvers vs Salem vs Sutton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Salem | Sutton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
44,795Highest |
9,452Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| 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%±2 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 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% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| 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 18% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below 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 |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Salem | Sutton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Salem High | Sutton High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
12.6 |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.