Compare towns
Beverly vs Dedham vs Newfields vs Medford
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Medford has the most expensive homes ($756k 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 | Newfields | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
25,237 |
2,023Lowest |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
35.9±1Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Beverly and Medford 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 31% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$129,540±$8k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$755,500±$23kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,509±$94Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 119% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,286Lowest 102% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±4.9Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Medford and Newfields 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 | — | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Dedham | Newfields School District | Medford |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Dedham High | None in town | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.4 |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.