Compare towns
Beverly vs Merrimac 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Merrimac has the most homeowners (81.3%).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Merrimac | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
6,748Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest 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% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
| Merrimac 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 |
$553,400±$38kLowest about the MA average |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Lowest 14% above MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
$6,884 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Beverly 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% |
9.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Framingham 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Pentucket | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Beverly High | None in town | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.