Compare towns

Northampton vs Sutton 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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.

MeasureNorthamptonSuttonBeverly
People
Population
30,962
9,452Lowest
42,665Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%
MA: +7.4%
+8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±2.2
3% above MA
44.3±2.5Highest
11% above MA
39±1.8Lowest
about the MA average
Sutton 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%
19.6%±3.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.5%±1.8
MA: 19.4%
Sutton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±1.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.4%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
Northampton and Beverly 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%
52.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
53.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
11.3%±0.8
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,288±$6kLowest
23% below MA
$147,125±$25kHighest
42% above MA
$106,044±$7k
about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$429,700±$17kLowest
24% below MA
$523,100±$47k
7% below MA
$650,300±$13kHighest
16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,439±$75
18% below MA
$1,190±$401Lowest
32% below MA
$1,771±$106Highest
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,680Lowest
5% below MA
$6,763
13% above MA
$6,836Highest
14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.6%±6.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
55.5%±7.2
MA: 51.8%
Northampton and Beverly 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%
5.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
9.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
60.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1956
8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
26% below MA
30 min
about the MA average
30 minHighest
3% above MA
Work from home
24.1%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1
MA: 18.6%
22.3%±2.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Northampton and Sutton 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 #105 of 282 in MA #144 of 282 in MA
School district Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural Sutton Beverly
High school in town Northampton High Sutton High School Beverly High
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7Highest
12.6
12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.