Compare towns
Framingham vs Springfield vs Beverly vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k median).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Springfield | Beverly | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 72,399 |
154,749Highest |
42,665 |
18,873Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1 6% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39±1.8 about the MA average |
42.1±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
| Ashland and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Framingham 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$127,539±$11kHighest 23% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 15% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$7,444Highest 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashland 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Springfield | Beverly | Ashland |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Springfield Central High | Beverly High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.2Lowest |
12.2Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.