Compare towns
Beverly vs Plainfield vs Dedham
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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Plainfield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
616Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Plainfield 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% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% 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±$106 about the MA average |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest 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% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 |
| School district | Beverly | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Beverly High | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.