Compare towns
Beverly vs Dalton vs Medford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Medford has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Beverly | Dalton | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
6,256Lowest |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
35.9±1Lowest 10% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Beverly and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$129,540±$8kHighest 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$755,500±$23kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,286 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
41.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.8%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Medford and Beverly 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Central Berkshire | Medford |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Wahconah Regional High | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.9 |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.