Compare towns
Fall River vs Dedham vs Danvers vs Lynn
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 the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082 |
25,237Lowest |
28,098 |
101,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below 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%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest 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% |
24.1% 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% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Lynn 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 |
$75,043±$3k 28% below 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 |
$510,100±$23k 9% 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 |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
| 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 |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Dedham 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% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
48.1% 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 |
1946 18 yrs older 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 8% 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% |
7.9%±1 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 | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Dedham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Lynn |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Dedham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.4Lowest |
12.8 |
15.0Highest |
| 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.