Compare towns
Whitman vs Beverly vs Dedham vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k 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 | Whitman | Beverly | Dedham | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,295 |
42,665Highest |
25,237 |
11,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 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+ | 31.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dudley and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
| Dedham and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% 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 | $1,771±$151 about the MA average |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
| Dedham and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Beverly | Dedham | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | None in town | Beverly High | Dedham High | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
10.4Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| 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.