Compare towns
Peterborough vs Dedham vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peterborough has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Peterborough | Dedham | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408Lowest |
25,237 |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $98,401±$8kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$31kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% 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 | $8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.