Compare towns
Beverly vs Framingham vs Plainfield
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).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
72,399Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$107,419±$6kHighest 3% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
| Framingham and Beverly 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — |
| School district | Beverly | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Framingham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.