Compare towns
Mansfield vs Salem 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
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Mansfield | Salem | Danvers | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,931Lowest |
44,795Highest |
28,098 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
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 | 22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 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+ | 51.1% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% 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 | $603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% 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 | $1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,836±$84 4% above 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 | $7,226 21% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Mansfield 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Salem | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Salem High | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.