Compare towns
Beverly vs Needham vs Upton vs Norwood
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Norwood has the most renters (46% rent).
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 | Upton | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
32,459 |
8,189Lowest |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$107,030±$11k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$651,700±$13k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,116±$83 20% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,111Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Needham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Norwood |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Needham High | Blackstone Valley | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.9 |
11.2Lowest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.