What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northbridge	Beverly
People
Population	16,458Lowest	42,665Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Beverly and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	53.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA	$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average
	Northbridge and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA	$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA	$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA	$6,836Highest 14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Beverly and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%	9.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	30 minLowest 3% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#226 of 282 in MA	#144 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Beverly
High school in town	Northbridge High	Beverly High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.