What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k median).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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	Thompson
People
Population	42,665Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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 U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kHighest 31% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Beverly and Thompson 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.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest 25% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Highest 119% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Beverly and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#144 of 282 in MA	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Beverly	Thompson School District
High school in town	Beverly High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.