What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Needham has the highest household income ($214k).

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	Needham
People
Population	42,665Highest	32,459Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Beverly and Needham 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%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Lowest 14% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 3% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#144 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Needham
High school in town	Beverly High	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.9Lowest
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.