Compare towns
Beverly vs Northampton vs Webster
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 most expensive homes ($650k median).
Northampton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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.
| Measure | Beverly | Northampton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
30,962 |
17,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±2.2Highest 3% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Northampton and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Beverly 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Northampton and Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Highest about the MA average |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest 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% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Webster |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Northampton High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
14.7Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.