Compare towns
Danvers vs South Hampton vs Plainville 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 the most renters (30.8% rent).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 Hampton | Plainville | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
984Lowest |
9,943 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Danvers and South Hampton 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% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Plainville 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% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Plainville 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. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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 94% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Dedham and South Hampton 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. |
$1,889±$489Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197 40% 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. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Plainville 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 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 | — | #102 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | South Hampton School District | Plainville | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.