What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

South Hadley has the most affordable homes ($358k 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	South Hadley
People
Population	42,665Highest	17,754Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	42.6±2.6Highest 7% above MA
	South Hadley 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%	12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	South Hadley 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%	50.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average	$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA
	Beverly and South Hadley 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	$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average	$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Highest 14% above MA	$5,500Lowest 8% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	48.7%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Beverly and South Hadley 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%	7.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 3% above MA	24 minLowest 19% below MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	17.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Beverly and South Hadley 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	#216 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	South Hadley
High school in town	Beverly High	South Hadley High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	8.6Lowest
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.