Compare towns
Beverly vs Lenox 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 people working from home (22.3%).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Lenox | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
5,079Lowest |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwood and Beverly 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% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$107,030±$11kHighest about the MA average |
| Norwood and Lenox 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 |
$466,700±$43kLowest 17% 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 |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,111 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Norwood 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% |
8.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Lenox 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Lenox | Norwood |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Lenox Memorial High | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
7.6Lowest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.