Compare towns
Nelson vs Beverly vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Nelson | Beverly | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
42,665Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,836 119% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest 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 | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson School District | Beverly | Dedham |
| High school in town | None in town | Beverly High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.