Compare towns
Needham 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
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Needham | Dedham | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
25,237Lowest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% 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 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest 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+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.