Compare towns

Dedham vs Mansfield 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 highest household income ($129k).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

MeasureDedhamMansfieldDanvers
People
Population
25,237
23,931Lowest
28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6
12% above MA
41.4±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
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%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
22.4%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Mansfield 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%
15.4%±2Lowest
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%
51.1%
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% above MA
$125,273±$15kLowest
21% above 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
$603,500±$28kLowest
7% above 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
$1,803±$147Lowest
about the MA average
$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
$7,226
21% above MA
$6,654Lowest
11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6
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%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
33 minHighest
13% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #119 of 282 in MA #60 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Mansfield Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town Dedham High Mansfield High Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
11.1
12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.