Compare towns
Hudson vs Danvers vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
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 | Hudson | Danvers | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% 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 | 17.8%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±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+ | 43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $90,524±$9kLowest 13% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% 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 | $473,300±$15kLowest 16% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% 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 | $1,397±$83Lowest 21% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% 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 | $6,597Lowest 10% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.