What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most affordable homes ($519k median).

Beverly has the most people working from home (22.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amesbury	Beverly
People
Population	17,403Lowest	42,665Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+8% MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Highest 9% above MA	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Amesbury and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Beverly and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	53.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average	$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average
	Beverly and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA	$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA	$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average
	Beverly and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Highest 23% above MA	$6,836Lowest 14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Amesbury and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Lowest MA: 10%	9.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest 3% above MA
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Beverly and Amesbury 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	#151 of 282 in MA	#144 of 282 in MA
School district	Amesbury	Beverly
High school in town	Amesbury High	Beverly High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.