Compare towns
Beverly vs Dedham vs Hanson vs Woburn
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 people working from home (22.3%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Hanson | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
25,237 |
10,660Lowest |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
39.3±1.6 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Hanson 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Hanson 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% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
| Hanson 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±$16k 18% above MA |
$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA |
| Woburn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Woburn and Dedham 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 |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Dedham | Whitman-Hanson | Woburn |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Dedham High | Whitman Hanson Regional | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
10.4Lowest |
14.7Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.