Compare towns
Danvers vs South Berwick 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
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | South Berwick | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
7,670Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| 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%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and South Berwick 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. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% 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. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% 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. |
$1,726±$83Lowest 22% 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. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and South Berwick 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Marshwood High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.0Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.