Compare towns
Beverly vs Norfolk vs Woburn
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%).
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 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 | Norfolk | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
11,673Lowest |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.6±1.3Highest 4% above MA |
39.3±1.6 about the MA average |
| Norfolk and Woburn 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% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
$673,500±$17k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Woburn and Norfolk 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 |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | King Philip · Millis | Woburn |
| High school in town | Beverly High | None in town | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.