Compare towns
Beverly vs Framingham vs Northbridge
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 renters (45.2% rent).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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 | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
72,399Highest |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Northbridge 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% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge 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 16% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest 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% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Framingham High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.7Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.