What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peterborough has the most affordable homes ($405k 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	Peterborough
People
Population	42,665Highest	6,408Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average	52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Beverly and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kHighest 31% above U.S.	$98,401±$8kLowest 22% above U.S.
	Beverly and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S.	$404,500±$31kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest 25% above U.S.	$1,395±$209Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Lowest 119% above U.S.	$8,655Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	23 minLowest 15% below U.S.
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Beverly and Peterborough 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	#59 of 120 in NH
School district	Beverly	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	Beverly High	Conval Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.