Compare towns
Framingham vs Everett vs Beverly vs Southborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Beverly has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Southborough has the highest household income ($197k).
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 | Framingham | Everett | Beverly | Southborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
50,045 |
42,665 |
10,493Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1 6% below MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39±1.8 about the MA average |
43.6±1.7Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Southborough and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$196,808±$16kHighest 89% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$821,100±$51kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,496±$309Highest 42% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 15% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
32%±15Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
31%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #229 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #8 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Everett | Beverly | Southborough |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Everett High | Beverly High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.2 |
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| 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.