Compare towns
Beverly vs Nelson vs Norwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Nelson has the most homeowners (90.2%).
Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Nelson | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
648Lowest |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Norwood and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$651,700±$13kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Norwood and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,116±$83Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 119% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,111 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beverly and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | — | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Nelson School District | Norwood |
| High school in town | Beverly High | None in town | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.