Compare towns
Danvers vs Sturbridge vs Dedham vs Salem
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).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Sturbridge | Dedham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
9,960Lowest |
25,237 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Sturbridge and Danvers 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% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Sturbridge 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 15% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% 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 |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% 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 |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Dedham | Salem |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Dedham High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
7.7Lowest |
10.4 |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.