Compare towns
Framingham vs Reading vs Beverly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Reading | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
699Lowest |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
39±1.8 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Framingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,419±$6kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
| Framingham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$6,836 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | — | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Beverly |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | None in town | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| 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.