Compare towns
Beverly vs Plainfield vs Windsor 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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Windsor has the highest household income ($116k).
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 | Plainfield | Windsor | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
616Lowest |
1,065 |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
39.3±1.6 about the MA average |
| Plainfield and Windsor 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% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
| Windsor and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA |
| Woburn and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
— | $2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$5,354 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | — | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | — | — | Woburn |
| High school in town | Beverly High | — | — | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | — | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.