Compare towns
Beverly vs Thompson 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 the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Thompson | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
9,337Lowest |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
35.9±1Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$129,540±$8kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$755,500±$23kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,509±$94Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 119% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,286 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beverly and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Thompson School District | Medford |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
7.9Lowest |
9.2 |
| 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.


