Compare towns
Beverly vs Northampton vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Northampton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
30,962 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±2.2Highest 3% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Northampton and Townsend 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%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend 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±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Highest about the MA average |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Beverly and Townsend 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 |
$5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Northampton High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.