What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Beverly	Newton
People
Population	42,665Lowest	89,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Newton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	19.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Beverly and Newton 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%	81.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	11.1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Beverly and Newton 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	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average	$2,370±$81Highest 35% 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%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest MA: 10%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 3% above MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#144 of 282 in MA	#25 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Newton
High school in town	Beverly High	Newton North High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.8Lowest
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.