Compare towns
Middleton vs Dedham vs Danvers vs Boxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Boxford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Middleton | Dedham | Danvers | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816 |
25,237 |
28,098Highest |
8,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
| Boxford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.5 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+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA |
| Boxford and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785 47% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boxford and Dedham 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Dedham | — | Boxford · Masconomet |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | — | Masconomet Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.