Compare towns
Beverly vs Hampton vs Dedham vs Norwood
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 the most people working from home (22.3%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Hampton | Dedham | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
16,426Lowest |
25,237 |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11k 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| 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±$106 25% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,116±$83Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Norwood and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 119% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,111Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Dedham 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beverly and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dedham | Norwood |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Winnacunnet High School | Dedham High | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.1Lowest |
10.4 |
11.5 |
| 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.