What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).

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	Norfolk
People
Population	42,665Highest	11,673Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	41.6±1.3Highest 4% above MA
	Norfolk 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 MA: 19.4%	24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	61.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average	$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA	$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average	$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA
	Norfolk and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Lowest 14% above MA	$9,651Highest 61% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norfolk 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%	2.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 3% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#144 of 282 in MA	#123 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	King Philip · Millis
High school in town	Beverly High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
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.