Compare towns

Fall River vs Dedham vs Danvers

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
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.

MeasureFall RiverDedhamDanvers
People
Population
94,082Highest
25,237Lowest
28,098
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
44.6±1.6
12% 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
19.9%±1.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Fall River and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.1%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2
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+
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dedham and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% 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
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% 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
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
$2,042±$182
16% above MA
$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
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$6,654
11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Dedham and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
5.6%
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1956
8 yrs older than MA
1963Highest
1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
11% below MA
29 minHighest
about the MA average
28 min
about the MA average
Work from home
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6
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 #262 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Dedham Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town B M C Durfee High Dedham High Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3
10.4Lowest
12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.