Compare towns
Beverly vs Danvers vs Needham vs Medford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Danvers | Needham | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
28,098Lowest |
32,459 |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
35.9±1Lowest 10% below MA |
| Danvers and Needham 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% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 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 |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$129,540±$8k 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$755,500±$23k 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA |
| Medford and Needham 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 |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,286Lowest 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Beverly 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | — | Needham | Medford |
| High school in town | Beverly High | — | Needham High | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 11.9 |
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.