What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cumberland has the most affordable homes ($431k median).

Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k 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	Cumberland	Beverly
People
Population	36,820Lowest	42,665Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S.	39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Beverly and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S.	$106,044±$7kLowest 31% above U.S.
	Cumberland and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S.	$650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,379±$109Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,771±$106Highest 25% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S.	$6,836Highest 119% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Beverly and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#18 of 38 in RI	#144 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland	Beverly
High school in town	Cumberland High School	Beverly High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	12.2Lowest
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.