Compare towns
Beverly vs Oakham vs Medford
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%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Medford has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Oakham | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
1,639Lowest |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
35.9±1Lowest 10% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Beverly and Oakham 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% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Beverly and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$129,540±$8kHighest 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$755,500±$23kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,286 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.1%±4.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.8%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Medford 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 | — | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Quabbin | Medford |
| High school in town | Beverly High | None in town | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| 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.