Compare towns

Beverly vs Reading vs Framingham

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 homeowners (84.9%).
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.

MeasureBeverlyReadingFramingham
People
Population
42,665
699Lowest
72,399Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±1.8
about the U.S. average
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
37.5±1Lowest
4% below U.S.
Kids under 18
18.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Framingham 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
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.7%
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%
6.5%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,044±$7k
31% above U.S.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
$107,419±$6kHighest
33% above U.S.
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
95% above U.S.
$377,200±$72kLowest
13% above U.S.
$627,300±$10k
89% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,771±$106
25% above U.S.
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
$2,033±$57Highest
44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,836
119% above U.S.
$5,754Lowest
84% above U.S.
$6,884Highest
121% 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%
53.4%±5.6Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
60.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
54.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1969Highest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
14% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading 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 — #229 of 282 in MA
School district Beverly Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Beverly High None in town Framingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Lowest
—
12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.