Compare towns
Mendon vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Bellingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Bellingham has the most affordable homes ($451k 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 | Mendon | Danvers | Dedham | Bellingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
17,410 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% 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 | 22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±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+ | 46.9% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,307±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
| Mendon and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$450,700±$13kLowest 20% 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 | $1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,836±$196Lowest 4% 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 | $7,213 20% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,030Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #232 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Dedham | Bellingham |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Dedham High | Bellingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.4 |
| 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.