Compare towns
Beverly vs Canton vs Upton vs Medford
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Medford has the most renters (45.9% 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 | Canton | Upton | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
24,748 |
8,189Lowest |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
35.9±1Lowest 10% below MA |
| Upton and Canton 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% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
59.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Beverly and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$129,540±$8k 25% above MA |
| Upton and Canton 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 |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$755,500±$23kHighest 34% above MA |
| Medford and Canton 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 |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA |
| Medford and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,286Lowest 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
41.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.8%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Medford and Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Medford |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Canton High | Blackstone Valley | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
13.1Highest |
11.2 |
9.2Lowest |
| 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.