Compare towns
Northampton vs Springfield 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
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Springfield | Beverly | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,962 |
154,749Highest |
42,665 |
29,650Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39±1.8 about the MA average |
43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Melrose and Northampton 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$133,953±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA |
| Melrose and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680 5% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$7,578Highest 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 26% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Springfield | Beverly | Melrose |
| High school in town | Northampton High | Springfield Central High | Beverly High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.2Lowest |
12.2Lowest |
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.