What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

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

Measure	Beverly	Northampton
People
Population	42,665Highest	30,962Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	41.3±2.2Highest 3% above MA
	Northampton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Beverly and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±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%	62.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average	$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA	$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average	$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Highest 14% above MA	$5,680Lowest 5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northampton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest MA: 10%	13.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 3% above MA	21 minLowest 26% below MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northampton 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	#159 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural
High school in town	Beverly High	Northampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	14.7Highest
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.