Compare towns
Beverly vs Winchester vs Medford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the most affordable homes ($650k median).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
Medford has the most renters (45.9% rent).
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 | Winchester | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
23,406Lowest |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
42.5±1.9Highest 6% above MA |
35.9±1Lowest 10% below MA |
| Winchester and Beverly 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% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA |
$129,540±$8k 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$755,500±$23k 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
$2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA |
| Medford and Winchester 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,286Lowest 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.1%±4.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Winchester | Medford |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Winchester High School | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
14.8Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.