Compare towns
Dedham vs Salem vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Dedham | Salem | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
44,795Highest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 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+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% 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 | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% 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 | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% 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 | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,654 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest 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 | 5.6% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Salem | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | — | Salem High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.