Compare towns
Beverly vs Dedham vs Dedham vs Dighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
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 | Dedham | Dedham | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
25,237 |
25,237 |
8,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dighton and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
| Dighton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$501,900±$47kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,452Lowest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | — | Dedham | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | Beverly High | — | Dedham High | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.