Compare towns
Acton vs Everett vs Malden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most homeowners (74.9%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Malden has the shortest commute (34 min average).
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.
| Measure | Acton | Everett | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
50,045 |
65,906Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
35.8±1 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$100,606±$6k 3% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$633,500±$26k 13% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA |
| Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$4,995 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±4.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
41.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 minLowest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Everett | Malden |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Everett High | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.1Lowest |
16.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.