Compare towns

Dedham vs Danvers vs Dighton

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 people working from home (20%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).

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.

MeasureDedhamDanversDighton
People
Population
25,237
28,098Highest
8,193Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+14.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6
12% above MA
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
42.7±2.9Lowest
7% 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%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21%±4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Dighton 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%
17.5%±3.5Lowest
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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.4%
MA: 47.3%
35.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±2
MA: 7.9%
Dedham and Dighton 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
$136,646±$19kHighest
31% above MA
Dighton and Dedham 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
$644,200±$23k
15% above MA
$501,900±$47kLowest
11% below 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
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,405±$192Lowest
20% 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
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$6,654
11% above MA
$6,452Lowest
8% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
11.8%±16.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Dedham and Danvers 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%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
90.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
28 minLowest
about the MA average
31 minHighest
6% above MA
Work from home
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
11%±3.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Dedham and Danvers 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 #85 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham — Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth
High school in town Dedham High — Bristol County Agricultural High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
—
11.9Highest
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.