What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k 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	Lowell
People
Population	42,665Lowest	118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Highest about the MA average	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	30%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average	$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA	$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average	$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA
	Beverly and Lowell 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	$4,499Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Beverly and Lowell 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%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 3% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#144 of 282 in MA	#255 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Lowell
High school in town	Beverly High	Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	14.8Highest
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.