Compare towns
Dedham vs Gorham vs Danvers vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($461k median).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Gorham | Danvers | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
18,300Lowest |
28,098 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #91 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Gorham Public Schools | — | Needham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Gorham High School | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— | 11.9 |
| 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.