Compare towns
Beverly vs Reading vs Danvers vs Medford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Medford has the most people working from home (26.8%).
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 | Reading | Danvers | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
699Lowest |
28,098 |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the U.S. average |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
35.9±1Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Reading and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 31% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$129,540±$8kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Medford and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$755,500±$23kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$2,509±$94Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 119% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,286 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Medford and Reading 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Medford |
| High school in town | Beverly High | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 12.8Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.