Compare towns
Beverly vs Dedham vs Middleton vs Wakefield
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Middleton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
25,237 |
9,816Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Middleton 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wakefield 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% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 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% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Middleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Middleton and Wakefield 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 |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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 |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Dedham | Middleton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Dedham High | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
| 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.