Compare towns
Danvers vs York 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).
York has the most people working from home (26%).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | York | Dedham | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
13,986 |
25,237 |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
49.5±5.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| York and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| York 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% |
27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| York 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% |
53.1% 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% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 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. |
$121,250±$25kLowest 50% 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. |
$636,400±$30kLowest 91% 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. |
$1,490±$336 5% 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. |
$4,658Lowest 49% 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% |
56.5%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| York and Dedham 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% |
5.8%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% |
81.5% 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. |
1977 3 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 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| York 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 | #13 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | York Public Schools | Dedham | Middleton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | York High School | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.6Lowest |
10.4 |
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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.