Compare towns
Dedham vs Danvers vs Boston vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Danvers | Boston | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
28,098 |
666,442Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
44.6±1.6 12% 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% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 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% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Boston and Danvers 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 |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Boston 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Boston Latin School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 18.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.