Compare towns

Beverly vs Framingham vs Reading

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).

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.

MeasureBeverlyFraminghamReading
People
Population
42,665
72,399Highest
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±1.8
about the U.S. average
37.5±1Lowest
4% below U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
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%
15.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.3%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.5%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,044±$7k
31% above U.S.
$107,419±$6kHighest
33% above U.S.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
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
95% above U.S.
$627,300±$10k
89% above U.S.
$377,200±$72kLowest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,771±$106
25% above U.S.
$2,033±$57Highest
44% above U.S.
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,836
119% above U.S.
$6,884Highest
121% above U.S.
$5,754Lowest
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.5%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
53.4%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Reading 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%
10.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
60.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
54.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
1969Highest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
14% above U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
19.6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading 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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town Beverly High Framingham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Lowest
12.7Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.