Compare towns
Danvers vs Thompson vs Sutton 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Thompson | Sutton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
9,337Lowest |
9,452 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Dedham 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Danvers 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% 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. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% 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 | $6,654 113% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 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. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Thompson School District | Sutton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Sutton High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
7.9Lowest |
12.6 |
10.4 |
| 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.



