Compare towns
Beverly vs Northampton vs Webster 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%).
Northampton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | Northampton | Webster | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
30,962 |
17,748Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
41.3±2.2Highest 3% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Northampton and Webster 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%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Webster 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% |
20.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Northampton and Webster 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% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$107,419±$6kHighest 3% above MA |
| Framingham and Beverly 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 |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Webster | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Northampton High | Bartlett High School | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
14.7Highest |
11.6Lowest |
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.