What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).

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	Norton
People
Population	42,665Highest	19,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	39.6±1.2Highest about the MA average
	Norton 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%	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Beverly and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Beverly and Norton 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%	45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Norton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA	$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA
	Norton 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	$5,929Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Beverly and Norton 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%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 3% above MA	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Beverly and Norton 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	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Norton
High school in town	Beverly High	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.9Lowest
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.