Compare towns
Beverly vs Dedham vs Nelson vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Nelson | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
25,237 |
648Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| 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 25% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 119% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Dedham | Nelson School District | Salem |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Dedham High | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.4 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.