Compare towns
Dedham vs Danvers vs Boxford
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 youngest population (median age 44.6).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Boxford has the highest household income ($201k).
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 | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
28,098Highest |
8,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
| Boxford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford and Dedham 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% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boxford 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 | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Boxford · Masconomet |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Masconomet Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.