Compare towns
Beverly vs Maynard vs Framingham vs Northampton
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%).
Maynard has the most homeowners (75%).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Northampton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Maynard | Framingham | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
10,712Lowest |
72,399Highest |
30,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
| Maynard and Northampton 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northampton 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Maynard 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 |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,884 15% above MA |
$5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
8.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Maynard | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Maynard High | Framingham High School | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
9.7Lowest |
12.7 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.