Compare towns
Beverly vs Athol vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Beverly | Athol | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
12,011Lowest |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
39.3±1.6 about the MA average |
| Athol and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$111,185±$9kHighest 7% above MA |
| Woburn and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA |
| Woburn and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,354 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 3% above MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Athol-Royalston | Woburn |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Athol High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.6 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.