Compare towns
Beverly vs Dedham vs Dover
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).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
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 | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
25,237 |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Beverly and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
— |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Lowest 14% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Dedham 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.