Compare towns
Beverly vs Chilmark vs Framingham vs Northampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k 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 | Beverly | Chilmark | Framingham | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
1,578Lowest |
72,399Highest |
30,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Beverly 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% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
| Chilmark and Framingham 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton 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% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Northampton 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 | — | #229 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Up-Island Regional | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Beverly High | None in town | Framingham High School | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 12.7 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.