Compare towns
Northampton vs Williamsburg 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).
Williamsburg has the most homeowners (82.2%).
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 | Williamsburg | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,962 |
2,694Lowest |
42,665Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$104,792±$21k about the MA average |
$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
| Beverly and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75 18% below MA |
$1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
$6,836Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 26% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg 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 | — | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Williamsburg | 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.