Compare towns
Hampton vs Dedham vs Danvers vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k 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 | Hampton | Dedham | Danvers | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
25,237 |
28,098Highest |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% 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 | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% 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 | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dedham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Dedham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
10.4 |
12.8Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.