What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).

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	Melrose
People
Population	42,665Highest	29,650Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Melrose 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%	20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Melrose 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%	62%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average	$133,953±$14kHighest 29% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA	$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average	$1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA
	Melrose and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Lowest 14% above MA	$7,578Highest 26% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Beverly and Melrose 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%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	67.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 3% above MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#144 of 282 in MA	#62 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Melrose
High school in town	Beverly High	Melrose High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	12.8Highest
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.