What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k median).

Dover has the most affordable homes ($437k 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.

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

Measure	Beverly	Dover
People
Population	42,665Highest	33,364Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Highest about the U.S. average	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Beverly and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Beverly and Dover 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%	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Beverly and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kHighest 31% above U.S.	$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Beverly and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S.	$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest 25% above U.S.	$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Beverly and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Lowest 119% above U.S.	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Beverly and Dover 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%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Beverly and Dover 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	#64 of 120 in NH
School district	Beverly	Dover School District
High school in town	Beverly High	Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.