Compare towns
Northampton vs Rowley vs Beverly
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).
Rowley has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Rowley | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,962 |
6,251Lowest |
42,665Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
| Rowley and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
| Rowley and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average |
| Beverly and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Northampton 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 26% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton and Beverly 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Triton | Beverly |
| High school in town | Northampton High | None in town | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.