What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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	Gardner
People
Population	42,665Highest	21,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Beverly and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Gardner 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Highest 14% above MA	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Beverly and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 3% above MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#144 of 282 in MA	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Gardner
High school in town	Beverly High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	13.5Highest
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.