Compare towns
Salisbury vs Danvers vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% 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 | Salisbury | Danvers | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Salisbury and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest 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+ | 29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% 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 | $465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% 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 | $1,770±$444Lowest about the MA average |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% 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 | $4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Dedham |
| High school 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.