Compare towns

Newfields vs Dedham vs Danvers vs Exeter

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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.

MeasureNewfieldsDedhamDanversExeter
People
Population
2,023Lowest
25,237
28,098Highest
16,151
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
45.3±3
16% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Newfields and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$128,955±$10k
60% above U.S.
$125,395±$10k
55% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kLowest
37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$644,200±$23k
94% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kLowest
37% above U.S.
Dedham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,856±$223Lowest
31% above U.S.
Danvers and Dedham 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 221% above U.S.
$7,918
154% above U.S.
$6,654Lowest
113% above U.S.
$8,814
183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields 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 — #119 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #22 of 120 in NH
School district Newfields School District Dedham — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town None in town Dedham High — Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Lowest
—
12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.