Compare towns
Beverly vs Cavendish vs Medford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Medford has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Cavendish | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
1,242Lowest |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the U.S. average |
45.2±5.9Highest 16% above U.S. |
35.9±1Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Beverly and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$129,540±$8kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$755,500±$23kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$2,509±$94Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 119% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,286 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Medford 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 | — | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Medford |
| High school in town | Beverly High | None in town | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.