Compare towns
Beverly vs Dedham vs Norwood
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 most homeowners (73.4%).
Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
25,237Lowest |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwood 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% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest 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% |
55.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$107,030±$11k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$651,700±$13k 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Norwood 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 |
$2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA |
| Norwood 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 |
$6,111Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Dedham | Norwood |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Dedham High | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.