Compare towns
Danvers vs Temple vs Beverly 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Temple | Beverly | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
1,363Lowest |
42,665Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Temple 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Beverly 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% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| 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 94% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Beverly 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. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,771±$106 25% 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 | $6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
$6,836 119% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beverly 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 | — | #144 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Contoocook Valley School District | Beverly | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Beverly High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.2 |
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.