Compare towns
Beverly vs Exeter vs Salem vs Framingham
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 the most expensive homes ($650k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Exeter | Salem | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
16,151Lowest |
44,795 |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Framingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 119% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beverly and Salem 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #248 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Salem | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Exeter High School | Salem High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.1 |
9.8Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.