Compare towns
Mendon vs Beverly vs Dedham vs Southampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Southampton has the most affordable homes ($452k 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 | Mendon | Beverly | Dedham | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325 |
42,665Highest |
25,237 |
6,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.4±3.5 9% above MA |
| Dedham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$123,125±$23k 18% above MA |
| Mendon and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$452,300±$25kLowest 20% below MA |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
— |
| Dedham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213 20% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,470Lowest 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
90.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Beverly | Dedham | Southampton |
| High school in town | None in town | Beverly High | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.