Compare towns
Merrimac vs Dedham vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimac has the most affordable homes ($553k median).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
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 | Merrimac | Dedham | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748Lowest |
25,237 |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
| Merrimac and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 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 | $123,054±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% 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 | $553,400±$38kLowest about the MA average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% 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 | $1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% 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 | $7,399 23% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.