Compare towns
Medford vs Ogunquit vs Dedham vs Beverly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medford has the most renters (45.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Beverly has the most affordable homes ($650k median).
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 | Medford | Ogunquit | Dedham | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 59,354Highest |
1,379Lowest |
25,237 |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.9±1Lowest 8% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
39±1.8 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Beverly and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,540±$8kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Medford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,500±$23k 127% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13kLowest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,509±$94Highest 78% above U.S. |
— | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,771±$106Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,286 102% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,836 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #203 of 282 in MA | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medford | — | Dedham | Beverly |
| High school in town | Medford High | — | Dedham High | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 10.4 |
12.2Highest |
| 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.