Compare towns
Danvers vs Temple vs Upton 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).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Upton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
1,363Lowest |
8,189 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%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. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Temple and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 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% |
53.5% 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% |
2.4%±1.3 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. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| 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 47% above U.S. |
$1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% 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% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Upton 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest 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. |
1981 1 yr newer 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. |
35 min 34% 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% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Contoocook Valley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.2 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.