Compare towns
Beverly vs Dover vs Norwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Dover | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
2,308Lowest |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Norwood 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 MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Beverly and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$107,030±$11k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$651,700±$13k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
— | $2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,111Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | — | Norwood |
| High school in town | Beverly High | — | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.