Compare towns
Stoughton 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
Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | Stoughton | Dedham | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,225Highest |
25,237Lowest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
| Stoughton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±2.2Lowest 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+ | 41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoughton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% 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 | $523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% 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 | $2,050±$200 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Danvers and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,215Lowest 4% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #196 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoughton | Dedham | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Stoughton High | Dedham High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.

