Compare towns
Beverly vs Everett vs Northampton 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 most homeowners (60.1%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Norwood has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Everett | Northampton | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
50,045Highest |
30,962Lowest |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
41.3±2.2Highest 3% above MA |
39±1.8 about the MA average |
| Northampton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Northampton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$107,030±$11kHighest about the MA average |
| Norwood and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$651,700±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
$2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA |
| Norwood and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
$6,111 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
13.4% MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
54% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Everett | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Norwood |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Everett High | Northampton High | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.1 |
14.7Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.