Beverly vs Manchester-by-the-Sea
You are paying about $650k more for a 4BR in Manchester-by-the-Sea, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $650k for one tier of schooling.
On tax, look past the rate: Beverly works out roughly $5,100 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR — despite having the higher rate of the two, because the bill follows the house.
Choose Beverly if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most.
All Beverly numbers →Choose Manchester-by-the-Sea if you want the stronger schools of the two.
All Manchester-by-the-Sea numbers →Side by side
The better of the two is highlighted on each row. Where a row is not highlighted, the two are close enough that calling a winner would be false precision.
| Beverly | Manchester-by-the-Sea | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | strong schoolsT2 |
| MCAS percentile | 62nd | 82nd |
| Niche district rank | 101st of 236 | 51st of 236 |
| 4BR house | $850kT2 | $1.5MT4 |
| 2BR condo | $480k | $775k |
| Commute to Boston | 54 minT3 | 58 minT3 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~42 min to terminal | Commuter rail · ~59 min to terminal |
| Tax rate | $10.81T2 | $9.50T1 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$9,200 | ≈$14,300 |
| 3BR rent | $3,157/mo | $3,150/mo |
Prices are estimates calibrated to the Zillow Home Value Index and Redfin; tax rates are FY2026 residential rates and the bill applies that rate to the town’s own median 4BR estimate; commutes take the rail leg from the MBTA timetable and still model the drive; rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents. School tiers are editorial and shown next to the state’s own MCAS figures. Data last reviewed — see the methodology. This comparison never uses demographics as an input.
