Compare towns
Danvers vs Washington vs Salem vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Washington | Salem | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
526Lowest |
44,795Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| 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 15% above MA |
$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above 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 |
— | $1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% 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 |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 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 | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — | Salem | Dedham |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — | Salem High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
10.4 |
| 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.