Compare towns
Framingham vs Stoneham vs Beverly vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Stoneham has the most homeowners (71%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
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 | Stoneham | Beverly | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
23,355Lowest |
42,665 |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA |
39±1.8 about the MA average |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Stoneham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Beverly 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Stoneham and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Stoneham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Stoneham and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% MA: 62.5% |
71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Stoneham | Beverly | Salem |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Stoneham High | Beverly High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.7 |
12.2 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.