Compare towns
Beverly vs Mendon 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%).
Mendon has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% rent).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k 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 | Mendon | Framingham | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
6,325Lowest |
72,399Highest |
30,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
| Mendon 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Framingham 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1 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% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Mendon 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 |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
| Framingham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$7,213Highest 20% 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% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%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 |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Mendon-Upton | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Beverly High | None in town | Framingham High School | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 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.