Compare towns
Danvers vs Sunapee vs Dedham vs Middleton
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).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Sunapee | Dedham | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
3,416Lowest |
25,237 |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Sunapee 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. |
$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Sunapee School District | Dedham | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.9 |
10.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.