What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the highest household income ($166k).

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	Reading	Beverly
People
Population	25,612Lowest	42,665Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Reading and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	53.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA	$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA	$650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA	$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average
	Reading and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,320Highest 56% above MA	$6,836Lowest 14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%	9.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% above MA	30 minLowest 3% above MA
Work from home	30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#50 of 282 in MA	#144 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Beverly
High school in town	—	Beverly High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.