What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

Milton has the highest household income ($189k).

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	Milton
People
Population	42,665Highest	28,587Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	41.1±1.8Highest about the MA average
	Milton 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%	25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Beverly and Milton 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%	71.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Beverly and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average	$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA	$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average	$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA
	Beverly and Milton 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	$9,677Highest 61% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Beverly and Milton 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%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 3% above MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#144 of 282 in MA	#55 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Milton
High school in town	Beverly High	Milton High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	12.4Highest
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.