Compare towns
Northampton vs Needham vs Beverly vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Beverly has the youngest population (median age 39).
Melrose has the oldest population (median age 43.6).
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 | Needham | Beverly | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,962 |
32,459 |
42,665Highest |
29,650Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Melrose and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$822,900±$20k 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
67.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 26% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Melrose 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Needham | Beverly | Melrose |
| High school in town | Northampton High | Needham High | Beverly High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.2 |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.