What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wayland has the highest household income ($224k).

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	Wayland
People
Population	42,665Highest	13,914Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	45±1.5Highest 13% above MA
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	18.7%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Beverly and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average	$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA	$978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average	$1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA
	Beverly and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Lowest 14% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Beverly and Wayland 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%	4.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.6%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 5% above MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#144 of 282 in MA	#18 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Wayland
High school in town	Beverly High	Wayland High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.9Lowest
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.