What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k 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	Northfield
People
Population	42,665Highest	2,872Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Beverly and Northfield 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%	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Northfield 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average	$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average
	Beverly and Northfield 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	$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average	$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Highest 14% above MA	$4,594Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Beverly and Northfield 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%	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 3% above MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Beverly and Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Pioneer Valley
High school in town	Beverly High	Pioneer Valley Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.