Compare towns
Fall River vs Dedham vs Danvers vs Freetown
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 people working from home (20%).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Freetown has the most homeowners (86.1%).
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 | Fall River | Dedham | Danvers | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
25,237 |
28,098 |
9,285Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% 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 |
40.9±3.2 about the MA average |
| 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%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Freetown and Fall River 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% |
17.8%±2.2 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% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest 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±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$143,884±$15kHighest 38% above MA |
| Freetown and Dedham 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 |
$518,200±$30k 8% 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 | $1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,891±$363 7% 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 |
$5,188 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8 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 | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Dedham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Dedham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.