What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beverly has the most people working from home (22.3%).

Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Beverly	Woburn
People
Population	42,665Highest	41,939Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	39.3±1.6Highest about the MA average
	Woburn and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Beverly and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average	$111,185±$9kHighest 7% above MA
	Woburn 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±$13kLowest 16% above MA	$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA
	Woburn and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average	$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Highest 14% above MA	$5,354Lowest 11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8%	55.5%±7.5 MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest MA: 10%	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 3% above MA	25 minLowest 13% below MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#144 of 282 in MA	#169 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Woburn
High school in town	Beverly High	Woburn High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.