Compare towns

Beverly vs Framingham vs Medford

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).
Medford has the highest household income ($130k).

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.

MeasureBeverlyFraminghamMedford
People
Population
42,665Lowest
72,399Highest
59,354
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39±1.8Highest
about the MA average
37.5±1
6% below MA
35.9±1Lowest
10% below MA
Beverly and Framingham 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%
12.7%±1.3Lowest
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%±1.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.1%±1.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
15.2%±1.3
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.4%
MA: 47.3%
48.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
59.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.3%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
6.5%±0.8Lowest
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
$107,419±$6k
3% above MA
$129,540±$8kHighest
25% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$650,300±$13k
16% above MA
$627,300±$10kLowest
12% above MA
$755,500±$23kHighest
34% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,771±$106Lowest
about the MA average
$2,033±$57
15% above MA
$2,509±$94Highest
42% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,836
14% above MA
$6,884Highest
15% above MA
$6,286Lowest
5% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.5%±7.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
53.4%±5.6
MA: 51.8%
41.1%±4.9Lowest
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%
10.4%Highest
MA: 10%
7.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
60.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
54.8%
MA: 62.5%
54.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
8 yrs older than MA
1966Highest
2 yrs newer than MA
1942Lowest
22 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
3% above MA
30 minHighest
4% above MA
30 min
4% above MA
Work from home
22.3%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
19.6%±2.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
26.8%±2.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
Medford 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 #203 of 282 in MA
School district Beverly Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical Medford
High school in town Beverly High Framingham High School Medford High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
12.7Highest
9.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.