Compare towns
Beverly vs Dedham vs Topsfield
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).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
25,237 |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Topsfield 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% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Dedham and Beverly 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Dedham | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.