Community Spotlight – Beverly, Massachusetts

The North Shore Alliance for Economic Development serves 30 communities, including four Gateway Cities, and brings their leaders together to explore and take action on economic development issues that can help grow the region, including those that advance the Commonwealth as a whole.

Over the course of the next few months, we will explore and get to know these 30 communities that make up the North Shore region of Massachusetts. We hope our readers will learn more about the unique benefits each community brings to their residents and visitors and how collectively they strengthen our regional economy.

Beverly – “The Garden City”

With the motto “The Garden City,” Beverly is not surprisingly a good balance between the robust business sector and miles of open space perfect for outdoor activities and events. What some may not realize is that the City is also the birthplace of the U.S. Navy.

Beverly offers a live-work-play environment that attracts families, highly-skilled workers, and the businesses that employ them. It also has strong transportation connections to Boston and beyond. Families enjoy living in Beverly due to the overall “feel” of the area and access to cultural activities and fun public events. Beverly is a perfect combination of a small city, but with the advantages of having that “close-knit small town” feel as well as the easy access to resources, one would see in a small town.

The City of Beverly has approximately 42,670 residents according to the 2020 U.S. Census Report and measures 22.59 square miles.

Economic Strengths & Projects of Beverly

It is unquestionable that Beverly has so much to offer visitors and families. They also have much to offer businesses that decide to start or expand within the city. Not only does Beverly have a vibrant and active community, but it is also easily accessible from Boston via four commuter rail stations, Route 128, and surrounding neighborhoods on the North Shore.

Beverly’s largest businesses include those in the healthcare field, life sciences, higher education such as Endicott College and Montserrat College of Art, as well as manufacturing. The City is the center of a growing North Shore Life Sciences cluster with over 60 life science companies located here. The Cummings Center, with 2.4 million square feet of office space, and two other industrial/office parks Cherry Hill Corporate Center and Dunham Ridge, provide space for businesses to emerge and grow.

Some of Beverly’s newest restaurants include The Falconer, Mission Boathouse, and Avocado Pit. We encourage our readers to visit some of these newcomers and see why Beverly is a hot spot for dining on the North Shore.

Economic Forecast

Overall, the economic outlook for Beverly is rather strong. Business investment is good, with positive levels of entrepreneurship, population growth, and a healthy commercial and residential tax base. The economic stats look good as well with our labor force of 23,271, employed at 22,147, unemployed at 1,124, and the unemployment rate currently sitting at 4.83.

Points of Interest and City Events

From the coastline to the vibrant downtown streets, Beverly is alive with places to visit, restaurants, shops, and activities for the young and young at heart alike.

Some points of interest that every visitor should try to experience include the Cabot Theatre, the

Larcom Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, Lynch Park, and the John Cabot House. Start your visit at the Cabot Theater, which is a North Shore treasure that is still going strong with shows since it opened in December 1920. Since that time, it has become known as a must-visit landmark in Downtown Beverly. The Larcom Theatre, also located in Downtown Beverly, is known as the “North Shore’s hidden gem.” The 600-capacity theatre, built in 1912 is known for its amazing acoustics that will take you back in time.

Since 1955, the NSMT, and its unique theater in the round layout and its unique productions, has become one of the most attended theatres in New England, with approximately 250,000 patrons annually. 

Lynch Park is considered the Crown Jewel of Beverly as it offers two beautiful beaches, a rose garden, a splash pad, a playground, and lots of open space for individuals and families to enjoy a walk or just enjoy the scenery along the coastline.

The Cabot House is a Georgian-style mansion built in 1781 during the Revolutionary War. It now serves as a museum of Beverly's history, a research center, and a regional visitor center.

In addition to many historical sites and scenic vistas, Beverly offers many annual events such as the Downtown Block Party, Homecoming, Arts Fest, Harbor Fest, Downtown Trick or Treat, and the Holiday Parade.

Economic Support & Resources in Beverly

Beverly supports businesses from many different industries. The Planning and Development Department helps businesses gain access to the permitting process, and explore economic development opportunities as well as retail/commercial space for sale or lease.

Locally, Beverly Main Streets is helping to revitalize the downtown area and encourage business growth. The Arts and Culture in Beverly have creative activities and programs that help to cultivate artists and cultural enterprise in Beverly.

Regionally, the Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce supports businesses within the region and focuses on improving the quality of life for citizens and businesses in the area. Additionally, at the regional level, The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network-Northeast Region (MSBDC) provides “free, confidential, one-to-one business assistance and free or low-cost educational training programs to prospective and existing small businesses.”

In neighboring cities, there are several other resources such as the Enterprise Center at Salem State University, SCORE Mentoring, and MassHire North Shore Workforce Board.

Major Strengths of the Community

Businesses, individuals, and families find that Beverly is a great combination of small city resources, and the community relationships you would see in a small town. The perfect balance.

Why Choose Beverly to Work or Live?

Some of the strong advantages of having a business in Beverly include the median income for the residential population, a growing and diversified employment base, and a high quality of life. Additionally, Beverly has four MBTA Commuter Rail stops, which provide access to talent pools in the greater Boston area.

Public Transportation & Navigating Beverly, Massachusetts

Beverly is serviced by both MBTA’s Commuter Rail, with four stations in the City, the MBTA 451 bus route; and the Beverly Shuttle, which provides east-to-west transportation.

Contact Beverly, Massachusetts

The North Shore Alliance Community page can also be a source of information regarding economic development sites within the North Shore communities.

Darlene Wynne

Director of Planning

Beverly City Hall

191 Cabot Street

Beverly, MA 01915

Phone: 978-921-6000