Compare towns
Epping vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Epsom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k 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 | Epping | Danvers | Dedham | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430 |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
4,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Epsom and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$97,941±$13kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,212±$437Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,210Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.4 |
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| 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.