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Quality of Life in Beverly, MA
A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
Cost of Living
75% above national average
The Real Cost of Living in Beverly, MA for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $27k | $50k |
| Comfortable | $121k | $178k |
| Luxury | $187k+ | $290k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $224k+ | $348k+ |
58%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
8 within 10 miles
Gas
20 within 10 miles
Hospital
20 within 20 miles
Airport
PDX — Portland International Jetport
Post Office
USPS — Beverly, MA
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Beverly, Massachusetts, presents a classic North Shore affluence profile: a historic coastal city where the median home value of $621,900 and a cost-of-living index of 175 (75% above the U.S. average) attract a mix of established professionals, Boston commuters, and families seeking top-tier public schools. The population skews educated and white-collar, with a significant contingent of healthcare, education, and tech workers drawn by Beverly’s balance of urban amenities and small-town character. Despite its high price tag, the city offers a distinct quality-of-life equation that differs markedly from pricier neighbors like Marblehead or Manchester-by-the-Sea.
Cost of living, housing affordability, and how Beverly compares to nearby towns
Beverly’s cost-of-living index of 175 is steep by national standards but sits in the middle of the pack for Boston’s North Shore. The median home value of $621,900 is roughly $100,000 less than in neighboring Marblehead and about $150,000 below Swampscott, making Beverly one of the more accessible coastal communities for buyers. Median rent of $1,683 is notably lower than the Boston metro average of roughly $2,400, though it still represents a significant portion of household income. Property taxes in Essex County average about 1.1% of assessed value, adding roughly $6,800 annually on a median-priced home. For renters, the market is tight: vacancy rates hover around 3%, and competition is fierce for units under $2,000. The trade-off for this relative affordability is that Beverly lacks the waterfront prestige of its pricier neighbors, but it compensates with a walkable downtown, commuter rail access, and a broader range of housing stock from Victorians to mid-century ranches.
What daily life is like: schools, amenities, and the commute to Boston
Daily life in Beverly revolves around its compact, historic downtown—anchored by Cabot Street’s independent shops, the Cabot Performing Arts Center, and a cluster of farm-to-table restaurants. The city’s public schools are a major draw: Beverly High School ranks in the top 20% of Massachusetts high schools (GreatSchools rating 8/10), and the elementary system benefits from strong per-pupil funding. The average commute of 29.8 minutes is manageable by regional standards, with the MBTA commuter rail reaching Boston’s North Station in about 35 minutes. For families, Lynch Park offers beach access and summer concerts, while the Beverly Public Library and the nearby Beverly Farms branch provide robust programming. The city lacks a major hospital within its borders—residents typically use Beverly Hospital (part of Beth Israel Lahey Health) or commute to Salem for specialized care. Grocery options include a Market Basket and a Whole Foods in adjacent Danvers, but downtown lacks a full-service supermarket, a common complaint among residents.
Beverly is best suited for professionals and families who want a walkable, historic coastal environment with strong schools and a reasonable Boston commute, but who are priced out of Marblehead or Manchester-by-the-Sea. The city’s high cost of living and property taxes will deter budget-conscious buyers, while its relatively dense, urban feel may disappoint those seeking a quiet seaside retreat. For the right household—one that values cultural amenities, a 30-minute train ride to downtown Boston, and a community with deep New England roots—Beverly offers a compelling quality-of-life package that justifies its premium price tag.
Crime in Beverly, MA
Lower crime rates than 78% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Beverly, Massachusetts, presents a mixed safety profile typical of a small city within a large, progressive-leaning metro area. While its violent crime rate of 180.3 incidents per 100,000 residents is notably lower than the national average, the city's property crime rate of 453 per 100,000 sits close to the national median. However, the broader context of Essex County and Massachusetts' liberal judicial philosophy—which often prioritizes diversion programs and reduced sentencing over incarceration—means that property crime and quality-of-life offenses may be more persistent than in jurisdictions with stricter enforcement.
Crime in context
Beverly's violent crime rate is roughly half the national average (approximately 380 per 100K), placing it among the safer communities for serious personal offenses. Property crime, however, is a more significant concern. The rate of 453 per 100K is slightly below the national average of roughly 1,900 per 100K for property crime overall, but it is elevated compared to many other North Shore suburbs. This disparity is partly attributable to the region's progressive criminal justice policies. Massachusetts has consistently ranked among the most lenient states for sentencing, with district attorneys in Essex County frequently utilizing pre-arraignment diversion programs and avoiding cash bail for non-violent property offenders. For residents, this translates to a higher likelihood of repeat property crimes, as offenders face minimal consequences and are quickly returned to the street.
What residents experience
Daily life in Beverly is generally safe, but residents report a steady undercurrent of property-related incidents. Larceny from motor vehicles and package thefts are the most common complaints, particularly in the downtown area near Cabot Street and in the denser neighborhoods around Beverly Depot. The city's proximity to Boston (via the commuter rail) and its status as a regional retail hub (with the Northshore Mall in adjacent Peabody) also attract transient property crime. The progressive approach to prosecution means that even when suspects are apprehended for these offenses, they are often released on summons or given minimal probation, creating a cycle that frustrates long-term residents. Violent crime, such as aggravated assault, is rare and typically confined to domestic disputes or incidents among known individuals, not random attacks on the public.
Neighborhood-level variation is notable. The Beverly Farms and Prides Crossing areas, which are wealthier and more isolated, report near-zero crime. In contrast, the Ryal Side and Gloucester Crossing neighborhoods, which have higher rental density and closer proximity to the city's commercial corridors, experience the bulk of property crime. The downtown area, while vibrant, sees occasional public intoxication and disorderly conduct, especially on weekend evenings. For families and professionals considering a move, the key takeaway is that Beverly offers a low risk of violent victimization but requires standard urban precautions against theft—a reality shaped as much by local judicial leniency as by the city's own policing efforts.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-24T12:09:36.000Z
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