Compare towns
Beverly vs Danvers vs Norton vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Norton | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
28,098 |
19,240Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39.6±1.2 about the MA average |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest 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% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Norton and Beverly 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±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$124,535±$11k 20% above MA |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
| Danvers and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
| Beverly and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,911±$375 8% above MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
| Danvers 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 |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$5,929Lowest about the MA average |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Framingham 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #173 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Norton | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Norton High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.8Highest |
10.9Lowest |
12.7 |
| 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.