What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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	Hampden
People
Population	42,665Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average	41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S.
	Hampden and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Beverly 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%	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Beverly and Hampden 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%	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kLowest 31% above U.S.	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Hampden 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 95% above U.S.	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest 25% above U.S.	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Highest 119% above U.S.	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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%	21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Beverly and Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Beverly	RSU 22
High school in town	Beverly High	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	14.8Highest
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.