Compare towns
Beverly vs Hanson vs Needham vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% rent).
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 | Hanson | Needham | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
10,660Lowest |
32,459 |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Needham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Beverly 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% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,884 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Whitman-Hanson | Needham | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Whitman Hanson Regional | Needham High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
14.7Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.7 |
| 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.