Compare towns
Boston vs Bow vs Everett vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has the youngest population (median age 33.3).
Bow has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).
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 | Boston | Bow | Everett | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
8,335Lowest |
50,045 |
63,266 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
35.2±1.2 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2k 21% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$142,101±$8k 76% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10k 120% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$1,246,800±$67kHighest 275% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25 52% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$2,835±$82Highest 101% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
46.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #258 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA | #22 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Bow School District | Everett | — |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Bow High School | Everett High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.