Compare towns
Medford vs Ogunquit vs Beverly vs Watertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medford has the youngest population (median age 35.9).
Ogunquit has the oldest population (median age 62.8).
Beverly has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Watertown has the most renters (52.3% rent).
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 | Medford | Ogunquit | Beverly | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 59,354Highest |
1,379Lowest |
42,665 |
35,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 35.9±1Lowest 8% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39±1.8 about the U.S. average |
39.4±1.3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Beverly and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,540±$8kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$126,265±$6k 56% above U.S. |
| Medford and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,500±$23k 127% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13kLowest 95% above U.S. |
$784,600±$31k 136% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,509±$94Highest 78% above U.S. |
— | $1,771±$106Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$2,502±$107 77% above U.S. |
| Medford and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,286 102% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,836Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,799 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±5.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beverly and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Watertown 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 | #203 of 282 in MA | — | #144 of 282 in MA | #171 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medford | — | Beverly | Watertown |
| High school in town | Medford High | — | Beverly High | Watertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.