What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beverly has the most people working from home (22.3%).

Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).

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	Hanson
People
Population	42,665Highest	10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	42.8±3Highest 7% above MA
	Hanson 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 MA: 19.4%	21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and Beverly 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%	19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson 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%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average	$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA	$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average	$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA
	Hanson and Beverly 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	$6,402Lowest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Beverly 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%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 3% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#144 of 282 in MA	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Beverly High	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.