Compare towns
Beverly vs Douglas vs Webster vs Woburn
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%).
Douglas has the most homeowners (83.8%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Douglas | Webster | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
9,207Lowest |
17,748 |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
39.3±1.6 about the MA average |
| Douglas and Webster 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% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Webster 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster 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% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA |
| Woburn and Beverly 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 |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,354 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Douglas | Webster | Woburn |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Douglas High School | Bartlett High School | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
7.2Lowest |
11.6 |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.