What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Hadley
People
Population	42,665Highest	5,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA
	Hadley and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Beverly and Hadley 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%	24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hadley 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	61.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	10.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Beverly and Hadley 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	$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA
	Hadley 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±$13kHighest 16% above MA	$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average	$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Highest 14% above MA	$5,271Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Beverly and Hadley 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%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 3% above MA	20 minLowest 33% below MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Beverly and Hadley 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	#116 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Hadley
High school in town	Beverly High	Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	7.3Lowest
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.