Compare towns
Beverly vs Needham vs Northampton
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 youngest population (median age 39).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k 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.
| Measure | Beverly | Needham | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
32,459 |
30,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
| Needham and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northampton 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 3% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Needham | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Needham High | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.