Compare towns
Northampton vs Hampton vs Beverly vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Beverly has the youngest population (median age 39).
Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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.
| Measure | Northampton | Hampton | Beverly | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,962 |
16,426Lowest |
42,665Highest |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2 6% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Melrose and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680Lowest 82% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$6,836 119% above U.S. |
$7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Melrose and Northampton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #144 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Beverly | Melrose |
| High school in town | Northampton High | Winnacunnet High School | Beverly High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.1Lowest |
12.2 |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.