Compare towns
Danvers vs Shirley 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% 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 | Shirley | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
6,976Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.3±3.4Lowest 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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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% |
19.8%±5.1Lowest 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Dedham 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 21% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| 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 15% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% 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 |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% 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 |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley 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 MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Ayer Shirley School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.