Compare towns
Temple vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Sharon has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Temple | Danvers | Dedham | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,363 |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
442Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.4±11.2 27% above U.S. |
| Temple and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±3Lowest 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 | $94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$113,125±$19k 40% 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 | $401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$475,900±$38k 43% 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 | $1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,458±$1k 3% 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 | $6,983 124% above U.S. |
$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,274Highest 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100Lowest 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 | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.