Compare towns
Beverly vs Northampton vs Springfield vs Salem
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 highest household income ($106k).
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Northampton | Springfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
30,962Lowest |
154,749Highest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
41.3±2.2Highest 3% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Northampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 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% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
| Salem and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Northampton 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% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 3% above MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Springfield | Salem |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Northampton High | Springfield Central High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
14.7Highest |
12.2 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.