Compare towns
Beverly vs Framingham vs Danvers vs Northampton
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%).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Framingham | Danvers | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
72,399Highest |
28,098Lowest |
30,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
| Danvers and Northampton 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% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 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% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Northampton 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% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below 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±$106 about the MA average |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below 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 |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest 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% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Beverly 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | — | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Beverly High | 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.