Compare towns
Beverly vs Dedham vs Peabody vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Peabody has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Peabody | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
25,237Lowest |
54,695 |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Peabody 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%±2 MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody 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% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$96,657±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$596,200±$12kLowest 6% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
| 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±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
| Dedham and Framingham 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 |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$6,884 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Dedham | Peabody | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Dedham High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
10.4 |
10.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.