Compare towns
Danvers vs Stoddard vs South Hampton 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).
Stoddard has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% 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 | Stoddard | South Hampton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
1,072 |
984Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest 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%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoddard and Danvers 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% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% 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. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$661,100±$45k 99% 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. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% 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. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Stoddard 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 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 | — | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Stoddard School District | South Hampton School District | 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.