Compare towns
Danvers vs Stoughton vs Dedham vs Amesbury
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Stoughton has the most homeowners (74.1%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Amesbury has the most kids (20% 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 | Stoughton | Dedham | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
29,225Highest |
25,237 |
17,403Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
| Stoughton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Amesbury 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% |
20.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest 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% |
41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Stoughton 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 |
$104,794±$6k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$523,800±$28k 7% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$519,300±$32kLowest 8% below 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 |
$2,050±$200 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA |
| Danvers and Stoughton 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 |
$6,215Lowest 4% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,360 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Amesbury 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% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #196 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Stoughton | Dedham | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Stoughton High | Dedham High | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.8 |
10.4Lowest |
10.9 |
| 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.