What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Webster has the most homeowners (96%).

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	Webster
People
Population	42,665Highest	2,227Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average	44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S.
	Webster and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kLowest 31% above U.S.	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.
	Webster and Beverly 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.	$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest 25% above U.S.	$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average
	Beverly and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Highest 119% above U.S.	$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Beverly and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Beverly and Webster 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	—
School district	Beverly	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	Beverly High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
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.