Compare towns
Beverly vs Dedham vs Douglas vs Salem
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%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% 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 | Beverly | Dedham | Douglas | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
25,237 |
9,207Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Salem 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Dedham | Douglas | Salem |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Dedham High | Douglas High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.4 |
7.2Lowest |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.