Compare towns
Beverly vs Bow vs Norwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Beverly | Bow | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
8,335Lowest |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beverly and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11k 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Norwood and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,116±$83Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 119% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,111Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beverly and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Bow School District | Norwood |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Bow High School | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.8Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.