Compare towns
Salem vs Mansfield vs Dedham vs Beverly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Salem | Mansfield | Dedham | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
23,931Lowest |
25,237 |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% 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 | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 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 | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Mansfield | Dedham | Beverly |
| High school in town | Salem High | Mansfield High | Dedham High | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
10.4 |
12.2Highest |
| 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.