Compare towns
Beverly vs Townsend vs Framingham vs Danvers
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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% rent).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Townsend | Framingham | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
9,100Lowest |
72,399Highest |
28,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
| Danvers and Townsend 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
| Danvers and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
| Beverly and Danvers 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 |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Danvers and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Framingham 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | North Middlesex | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | Beverly High | North Middlesex Regional | Framingham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.7 |
— |
| 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.